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DERRIANA, 

CONSISTING OF 

A HISTORY 

OF THE 

SIEGE OF LONDONDERRY 

AND 

DEFENCE OF ENNISKILLEN, 

IN 

16 S 8 and 1689 , 

WITH 

HISTORICAL POETRY 

AND 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES, &c. 


By THE Rev. JOHN GRAHAM, M. A. 

Curate of Lifford, in the Diocese of Derry, 


** Hail sacred walls ! while circling years shall flow, 

Or genial suns illume this vale below ; 

While sparkling stars diffuse their distant light. 

And cheer with fainter beams the sable night— 

While yon blue arch with sun or stars shall shine. 

Be thine the triumph as the woe was thine j 
May all thy citizens supremely blest. 

Unite the heroe’s w r ith the patriot’s breast. 

And, like their sires, unrivall’d in renown, 

Maintain our liberties, our church, and crown f-LEOXIDAL 

' t V, • 

LONDONDERRY: 

PRINTED TOR THE AUTHOR BY WILLIAM M‘CORKELE> 

13 , DIAMOND. 

} 8 22. 








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Q O X 


DEDICATION. 



TO THE 


DESCENDANTS 


OF 


THE HEROIC DEFENDERS 


OF 

LONDONDERRY AND ENNISKILLEN, 

■ * 


L 


THE 


FOLLOWING WORK 


IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, 


BY 


THEIR FAITHFUL AND 

DEVOTED SERVANT, 

JOHN a RAH AM. 


L*ro*i>, ArcvsT 1st, (O. S.) 1823. 


N O T £. 


The Author begs leave to return Thanks to the Friends of the 
Constitution, who have honoured him with their kind and prompt 

p •* -*» »•« •* 

support in this undertaking, and to plead an unexpected accumu¬ 
lation of materials, too valuable to be rejected, as his best excuse 

for omitting, in the present Edition, a Subscription List, which 

* 

would confer honour on his Book, and recommend it highly to « 
discerning Public. He has only to add, that instead of a Local 
Diary, he has been induced to offer them a History of Ireland, 
from the 7/4 of December, 1688, to the 1st of August, 1689. 


PREFACE 


The first account which appeared in print of the memorable 
Siege of Deny, in 1689, was the Diary of it published by the Rev. 
George Walker, in the Autumn of that year. Actively employ¬ 
ed, at a very advanced period of life, in an arduous situation, for the 
duties of which he had not been prepared by education or experi¬ 
ence, there is more cause to wonder at the ability with which he dis¬ 
charged them, and the accuracy with which he recorded them after¬ 
wards, than to be surprised at his alleged deficiencies either as a 
commander or an historian. 

The address to King William and Queen Mary, prefixed to his 
Diary, is a master-piece in its kind, bearing internal evidence of its 
coming from the pen of a great and good man. In it, he boasts only 
of the double comfort of the testimony of a good conscience and the 
gracious acceptance pf his services by their Majesties. He expresses 
gratitude for the Royal bounty extended to himself, and omits not to 
rceommend the services of his fellow-sufferers. Pie apoligizes, as a 
Churchman, for having acted in that service a part which might, 
with more propriety, have been done by other hands—refers all honor 
that could accrue to him, to that great Being in whose hand no in¬ 
strument is weak, and with equal modesty and eloquence, concludes 
by observing, that although he had shewn but little art or skill in 
what he presumed to lay before their Majesties’ feet, it had ornaments 
more valuable than either; natural simplicity, sincerity, and plain truth. 

All these were, however, soon afterwards questioned with a degree 
of asperity, perhaps unparalleled on any other occasion ; hut with al! 
the omissions and mistakes charged upon his Diary, he carried away 
the palm of applause from his rivals, affording to posterity an addi¬ 
tional proof, that an Ulysses is always an overmatch for an Ajax, ami 
that the hero capable of recording his own actions, and wise enough 
to do so with modesty and without exaggeration, is more likely to 
get full credit for his merit, than the illiterate warrior who requires 
another man’s pen to do justice to them. 

The applause which immediately followed the publication of 
Walker s Diary in London was unbounded. The heroic author 
basked in a sunshine of royal and popular favour, seldom beaming* 
upon the head of any one man at the same time, however great his 
merits or important his services. King William’s munificent boun- 


• • 

11 

ty to him, was a matter of policy as well as gratitude, scarce less 
beneficial to the giver than to the receiver of it. The Whigs, who 
were even then ready enough to he troublesome to their deliverer, 
and soon afterwards made him weary of his crown and his life toge¬ 
ther, hailed it as an act which reflected equal honor upon both, and 
the celebrated Tillotson, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, thus 
re-echoed the public feelings upon Walker’s promotion to the See 
of Derry, in bis letter to Lady Russel, of the 19tli of September, 
1GS9 

“ The King, besides his first bounty to Mr. Walker, (.£5000) whose modesty 
is equal to iiis merit, bath made him Bishop of Londonderry, one of the best 
Bishoprics in Ireland. It is incredible how much every body is pleased with 
what the King hath done in this matter, and it is no small joy to me to see that 
God directs him to do so wisely.” 

On the 19th of November in the same year, he received the thanks 
of the House of Commons, and on life 26th of February following, 
the University of Oxford, with that regard to the Protestant Interest 
which still characterises it, conferred upon him the honorary degree 
of Doctor of Divinity. Sir Godfrey Kneller, at the King’s command, 
drew bis picture ; and copper-plates struck oft' from it were dispersed 
through the three Kingdoms. In some of the prints he is drawn with 
a bible open at the 20th chapter of Exodus in one hand, and a drawn 
sword in the other. His garment of a purple colour, and a large old 
fashioned band, form a strong contrast to the military sash, appear¬ 
ing in crimson folds about his waist. An uncoloured copy of this 
curious print hung for half a century over a fire-place in Bishop-street, 
and is still preserved by Lieutenant Walker, R. N. now resident in 
Londonderry. About eighty years ago, either the original or a copy 
of Kneller’s portrait of the venerable hero, was in possession of Mr. 
Hunter, a painter in Dublin. From it, tradition says, the likeness of 

Walker on the tapestry in the Irish House of Lords was taken_ 

It was sold by Mr Hunter to Mr. Joshua Deane, of Palace-row, 
Dublin, who claimed a collateral descent from Walker. In his 
house it remained for fifty years, and after his death it was purchased 
by John Boyd, Esq. by whose permission it is annually carried on 
the 7th of December to Morrison’s hotel, in Dublin, where a nume¬ 
rous and highly respectable Society of the descendants of the defenders 
of Londonderry assemble to honour the glorious memory of their an¬ 
cestors. Each of the members of this Irish Pitt club, as it may be 
called, wears on bis breast, for that night, a medal impressed with 
a likeness or Governor Walker. 

It was not to be expected that such merit should escape the shafts 
of envy, or that the applause or remuneration it gained, should not 
elicit censure. In this, as in all similar cases, the shadow pursued 
the substance, and before the close of the same eventful year, the 


• t • 

Ill 

author found It necessary to publish a vindication of his Diary. A 
severe rejoinder soon appeared, animadverting upon the failures 
°f account ot the siege, and in a vindication of the aspersed 
chaiactei of Colonel Mitchelburn, published in 1692, the following 
invidious comparison was made between the merits of that renowned 
Officer and his reverend colleague 

<£ 7 hough loud tongucd fame so highly has blown up the great renown of 
Iioctor Walker in England, as truly much praise was due to him for having 
been so great an animator of the Protestant Cause in these worst of times, which 
It was his duty to do, yet, after tire death of Colonel Baker, which happened in 
the height of the town’s distress and deepest calamities, Colonel Mitchelburn 
was in joint command w ith the Doctor, whose conduct appeared more conspicu¬ 
ous in the eating part than the lighting part, and good reason, the charge of the 
stores and provisions being committed to him alone, whilst his brother Governor 
^ as only the martial colleague, and had the entire management of the town’s 
defence.” 

Mackenzie’s more copious narrative, was published for the author 
in London, in 1690, to rectify, as the title page announces, the 
mistakes, and supply the omissions of Mr. Walker’s account. He 
states himselt to have been Chaplain to a regiment during the siege, 
and in a preface of nearly twelve octavo pages, professes 0 to disabuse 
the world,” which, lie alleges “ had been grossly imposed upon in 
certain ridiculous attempts, not only to make a chief governor, but a 
mighty hero, of Dr. W alker, and that not only in the account of the 
siege published in his own name, but in papers of others who had 
published panegyrics upon him.” He asserts that in these publications, 
“ Governor Baker had been pilfered of several of his merited plumes] 
and Mr. Walker adorned with them.” 

It appears from Mackenzie’s narrative, that Walker, whom he thus 
represents as a jackdaw covered with stolen feathers, had been accus¬ 
tomed, during his government, to intrigue with the enemy, and em¬ 
bezzle the public stores committed to his charge, accusations of 
such a nature, as to render his continuance in office, morally impossi¬ 
ble, had they been substantiated. The only result of them, according 
to Mackenzie’s own narrative was, that those who suspected Walker’s 
intention to betray the town to the enemy, made a private agreement 
with each other to keep a good reserve for the prevention of it, and 
that an order of Council was issued that his orders should not be ac¬ 
cepted by the keepers of the stores, unless when signed by the other 
Governor or Major Adams. With respect to these charges, Gig fol¬ 
lowing observations from a late history of the British Revolution, by 
a respectable Roman Catholic gentleman, may be quoted, (Moore, 
448—London, 1817,) supported as they are, by Walker’s own re¬ 
futation of his calumniators:— 

“ As the defence of eke city rested in a great measure with Walker, every ar- 


IV 


$ifiea was employed to shake the confidence of the garrison in their opinion c i 
his confidence and fidelity. Traitors in the pay of James’s Generals, assuming 
the common disguise of fanatics, framed and propagated rumours calculated to 
bring both into discredit. They impudently asserted, that while all others in the 
town were reduced to absolute famine, he bad plenty of provisions stored in his 
house. Walker directed some soldiers to rise, as if in a mutiny, and search his 
house in the face of the whole town. By these means he confuted the calumny, 
and enjoyed more firmly than ever the confidence of the inhabitants.” 

Captain. Ash’s Journal of the Siege did not appear until the year 
1792, when it was published in Derry by his grand-daughter. It is 
very brief, and, like Walker’s and Mackenzie’s, mentions very few of 
the transactions of the other parts of Ulster, during the period of the 
siege, the knowledge of which is absolutely necessary to those who 
would fully understand the history of that interesting period. Wal¬ 
ker, in his relation of the transactions at Derry, passes at once from 
the 9th of December, 1688, to the 14th of the ensuing month of 
March; Mackenzie, from the 18th of January to the 15th of March; 
and Ash from the 17th of December to the 13th or April. Among" 
McPherson’s original papers, published in 1775, there is an extract 
from memoirs of James II., stated to have been written by that un- 
happy Prince, who is said to have kept a journal of the occurrences 
of every day of his life. Little credit can be attached to this work, 
unless when supported by better authority; come of the details in it 
may be used with advantage in supplying the deficiencies of the 
other narratives, particularly as to the letters written by the Officers 
of his army during the siege. 

From all these materials, compared with each other, as well as 
from the general history of the Country, the genealogy of private fa¬ 
milies of rank and property in these times, and eveiy other source of 
information within the Author’s reach, the following Diaiy has been 
drawn up, which it is hoped will he found much more satisfactory 
than any other account of the siege of Londonderry and defence of 
Enniskillen hitherto published. 


Lifford, 1 2th March , 1825. 


DIARY, &c. 


As Ireland was doomed to be the arena upon which the fate of tho 
liberty of the West of Europe was to be decided, so was it from this 
Island that James II. received the first intelligence of the Prince of 
Orange’s designs against him. The Earl of Tyrconnel obtained the 
earliest account of the preparations in Holland, by a ship which ar¬ 
rived in the bay of Dublin, and he lost no time in transmitting his 
report of it to the King. It was received with the utmost scorn and 
derision by the English Court; the Secretary ridiculed it in his reply 
to the Viceroy, who, nevertheless, was observed to lower his tone 
towards the Protestants, and to talk of his impartiality in such a way 
as to indicate his desire to secure the confidence and intercession of 
some of them, in his apprehension of a reverse of fortune. Chief 
Justice Nugent, however, echoed the holder sentiments of the Ro¬ 
mish party, in his charge to a Grand Jury, in which he promised the 
Prince of Orange the fate of the Duke of Monmouth, and declared 
bis conviction that the Protestant rebels of England would, before 
the expiration of one short month, be seen hanging in all parts of it 
like bunches of onions. 

The arnty in Ireland, at this time, amounted to eight thousand in 
number, and the Lord Lieutenant, in compliance with orders most 

injudiciously sent to him, transported one half of them to England_ 

With respect to the City of Londonderry, this proved a most fortu¬ 
nate circumstance, and is justly ascribed by Walker to the pro¬ 
vidential infatuation of the Chief Governor’s counsels. On this oc¬ 
casion, Lord Mountjoy’s entire regiment, which had been quartered 
in and about this City, was withdrawn from it, and the regret of the 
citizens at their departure, on account of their reliance on the Noble¬ 
man who commanded it, as well as on a few Protestants among the 
officers and privates, may be noticed as an additional proof of the ig¬ 
norance of man, in grieving at occurrences, for which he ought ra¬ 
ther to rejoice. Had this regiment not been removed from the city, 
it would have been morally impossible for the inhabitants to resist iho 
tyrant, and the possession of it, together with Carrickfergus and Bel¬ 
fast, by the adherents of James, would have opened such a commu¬ 
nication between Ireland, Scotland, and the North of England, as 
must have frustrated every attempt at accomplishing the Revolution. 

The troops wliich remained at the disposal of Tyrconnel were but, 


a handful, compared to the Protestants capable of bearing arms, and 
burning with impatience to wield them, and who had weapons enough 
in the city of Dublin alone, to enable them to disarm their adversaries. 
Wh* a they heard that Janies had sent Commissioners to treat with 
their deliverer, it was with the utmost difficulty they were prevailed 
upon to refrain from seizing the castle ci Dublin, and making i\i- 
cornel, who had only six hundred men to protect him, their prisoner. 
The constant arrival of expresses from England with accounts ot the 
Prince’s wonderful successes, so disheartened the Irish army, that 
they declared they were ready to lay down their aims, and satisfi¬ 
ed to return to the condition in which they were during the preced¬ 
ing reign. Tyrconnel himself signified to the Protestants his de¬ 
sire that they would intimate this proposal to their friends in England, 
and stated that he was willing to resign the sword, with King James’s 
permission, which he deemed it probable he would soon receive. 

The Rev. William King, afterwards successively Bishop of Derry 
and Archbishop of Dublin, was at this time President of the Chapter 
of St. Patrick’s, Dublin, to the Deanery of which he succeeded on 
the 26th of January, 1689. He had already distinguished himself 
by an able reply to the considerations which had induced Peter Man- 
by, Dean of Derry, to conform to the Popish religion, and he was 
now actively employed in keeping up a correspondence with the friend* 
of the Prince of Orange in England. Encouraged by the advices 
which he received in return, he earnestly persuaded the Protestants 
to embrace the deliverance offered to them by Divine Providence, to 
acknowledge the Prince of Orange for their King, and to submit to 
his authority. This had a wonderful influence on the spirits of the 
people, and disposed them to a zealous defence of their religion and 
civil rights. 

The Protestants, in all difficult cases, had recourse to him for ad¬ 
vice how to conduct themselves in such a dangerous predicament as 
that in which they stood at that crisis; and such a counsellor was 
then of incalculable benefit to them. Nor was he of less service to 
the Protestant cause on the other side of St. George’s Channel, where 
a most powerful body of the Clergy and Laity of the Established 
Church adhered to James, and had been most grossly deceived by 
reports indefatigably circulated amongst them, of the great mildness 
of that tyrannical Prince’s government towards the Protestants of Ire¬ 
land. To counteract the dangerous effects of such representations, 
every where received as truth, Mr. King took the utmost care, by 
private letters, to undeceive the people of England, undertaking an 
arduous duty, at all times necessary for the preservation of the Eng¬ 
lish and Protestant interest in this place, and never more so than at 
the period of our history now under review, if we may except the 
present times, when, for upwards of forty years, the system of delu- 


o 

O 


»ion with respect to Ireland, is unhappily practised with so much suc¬ 
cess, not only in one ol the houses of the Legislature, but in the in¬ 
most recesses of the Cabinet of the Empire. 

io such a pitch was this delusion carried in Scotland, even after 
the arrival o{ William and the flight of James, in 16S8, that Sir 
T>aniel M‘Daniel, who came out of the Isles of Orkney to Dublin 
in the ensuing year, with several Gentlemen of the Highlands, de¬ 
clared that their Ministers in the pulpits had assured them that the 
Protestants of Ireland lived under King James in the greatest free¬ 
dom, quiet, and security, both as to their properties and religion ; 
and that it the Protestants of Scotland knew the truth of the matter, 
as they then found it here, they would never fight a single stroke for 
him. Similar mistakes prevailed in England at the same time, and 
agents were dispatched through the coffee-houses, taverns, and other 
public places, to disseminate an opinion that the Protestants of Ireland 
lived easy and happy under Tvrconnel’s government, while they were 
bleeding under the lash ol his intolerable tyranny. 

In this state of public feeling in the metropolis, a letter was dropt 
at Cumber, in the County of Down, where the Earl of Mount-Alex¬ 
ander resided, dated December 3, 1688, informing that Nobleman, 
that on Sunday the Oth of that month, the Irish throughout the whole 
Island, in pursuance cf an oath which they had taken, were to rise 
and massacre the Protestants, men, women, and children, and warn¬ 
ing him to take particular care of himself, as a Captains commission 
would be the reward of the man who would murder him. There 
was no name subscribed to this letter, and the had writing and low 
style of it, seemed to argue that it was penned by one of the lowest 
of the natives. Letters to the same purpose were written to a Mr. 

Brown, of Lisburn, Mr. Maitland, of Hillsborough, and others_ L 

Whether the letter to Lord Mount-Alexander was a false alarm or 
not, the most decided friends of the Revolution did not dispute, but 
all the Protestants who saw it agreed, that in such a posture of their 
affairs, it was not a document which they ought to suppress, and 
accordingly copies of it were, on the next day, forwarded to Dublin 
by Sir W. Franklin, Arthur Upton, Esq., W. Ccningham, Esq., and 
Mr. Thomas Knox,, not only to alarm the Protestants in that city, 
but to give them the opportunity of communicating the contents of it 
to all other parts of Ireland. 


Early on the day after the arrival of this intelligence in Dublin, up¬ 
wards of three thousand terrified Protestants, deserting their houses 
and their property, embarked on board ships which happened to he 
in the bay at that time, in which they were so crowded, that many 
4 u. them were in danger of being suffocated. 

Tyrcomiel in. Tain attempted to. repress the tide of popular terror.— 


4 


On Sunday morning he sent two Protestant. Lords to persuade tha 
people not’to go away, and lie ordered a yacht to bring hack some or 
those who had gone, hut all his endeavours were ineffectual, they 
had lost all confidence in him ; and Ins oaths, of which he was re¬ 
markably profuse upon all occasions, were now unable to obtain any 
credit from them. On the same day the report arrived m many oi 
the principal towns in Ireland, while the Protestants were at church, 
and it struck them with such terror, that many of them broke out 
through the windows, others pushed towards the doors, regardless Oi 
the danger of being crushed to death hy a crowd struggling % escape 
by the "same passage. Hats, caps, and shoes were left behind, 
clothes torn to pieces, and women and children severely injured,, by 
heino-crushed against the walls or trampled under foot in the contusion. 

For several Sundays the Protestants carried weapons of all sorts 
■with them into their churches, and even their officiating Ministers 
were armed with sword and pistols in their pulpits, lwo contending 
Churches were at this time literally militant in Ireland, and a primi¬ 
tive Christian, without reference to the justice of the cause on either 
side, would have wept and deprecated the weapons ot toe tv aifaie. 

Copies of the letter to Lord Mount-Alexander arrived in Ennis¬ 
killen on Friday the 7th, and obtained immediate credit in that town, 
in which many persons then lived who had survived and recollected 
the massacre of 16-11. Letters were immediately (lespatiiied lion? 
the town to all the Gentlemen in the surrounding country, requesting 
their assistance to repel two companies of foot belonging to Sir loos. 
Newcomen's regiment, for which 1 yrconnel had ordered tnem to ’pro¬ 
vide quarters, but whom they were desirous to keep out, although 
there were hut eighty inhabitants in the town, and they were 
not possessed of ten pounds ot gunpowder, or more than twenty 
ir.u:-;juets in complete repair. The messengers returned to them, 
ns might he expected, with but little encouragement, but the Ennis¬ 
killen ners, steady to their purpose, resolved not to receive the Popish 
garrison, and commenced the most active preparations tor deience. 

A copy of this letter was sent by William Coningham, Esq. from 
Belfast, inclosed in one of his own, to George Canning, Esq. ot Gar- 
vagln in the county of Londonderry. Mr. Canning, whose father 
] ia d been cruelly murdered at his own house in that place on the com¬ 
mencement of the massacre of 1641, sent this letter Avith the utmost 
expedition to Alderman Tomkins, in Derry, according to the strict 
injunction of Mr. Coningham. A gentleman meeting with this mes¬ 
senger on the way, Avas informed of the contents of his despatches, 
and sent the information to George Phillips, of lSn-Limavady, on 
the sixth of December, on which day a part of the Earl ot Antrim s 
new regiment arrived there; on its way to Londondeny. Mi. Ihil 


5 


lips, then in liis ninetieth year, with a promptness to be expected in 
a veteran highly distinguished through the whole of the preceding 
civil wars, sent a messenger at midnight to the city with an account 
of what had been communicated to him, and to acquaint bis friends 
there what description of guests they were likely to have on the en¬ 
suing day. He wrote to them, that instead of six or eight compa¬ 
nies of Irish Papists, and Scottish Highlanders of the same religion, 
as had been reported, this regiment consisted of about double the 
number, attended by a multitude of women and boys. 

At an early hour next morning Mr. Phillips sent another messen¬ 
ger to Londonderry, expressing his increased apprehension of the 
consequences of suffering this regiment to enter the city, and advising 
the citizens to look to their safety. The messenger who was charged 
with the delivery of the letter, told them that he had left some of the 
foremost companies within two miles of the town, the rest being on 
their way. The Alderman, with the rest of the leading men of the 
city, were in great confusion on receiving these accounts. Alderman 
Tomkins consulted Mr. Gordon, a non-conforming Minister, who 
not only advised the closing of the gates, hut wrote immediately to 
several neighbouring parishes to warn the Protestants of their danger, 
and solicit their assistance. Alderman Norman, and others, in the 
mean time, were consulting the Bishop, and found that venerable 
Prelate cautious from years, and by the principles of his sacred pro¬ 
fession, an enemy to resistance. Dr. Hopkins bad been educated 
at Oxford, in Calvinistic and Independent principles, but upon the 
restoration of Charles II. be conformed to the Church cf England, 
and became an eminent preacher. He had at this time been nearly 
twenty years in Ireland, where he had successively occupied the sta- 
tions of Treasurer of the See of Waterford, Dean and Bishop of 
Raphoe, from which latter he had been translated to the Bishopric 
of Derry, where he was greatly esteemed for his humility, modesty, 
hospitality and charity. 

But the strongest incitement to the Protestants to preserve this 
their last refuge from persecution, arose from the public and un¬ 
guarded declarations of the Romish Priests in the Mass-houses, that 
they had some great design in hand, whereof their congregations 
should soon have particular notice; that it was their indispensable 
duty, at the peril of their salvation, to do whatever their Priests 
should direct and enjoin them, requiring them in the mean time 

“ TO BUY AND FURNISH THEMSELVES WITH THE BEST WEA¬ 
PONS they could.” The stories of tliis kind which were told by 
some of the Papists themselves, gained the more credit, from its be¬ 
ing observed through the whole kingdom, that not only the men, but 
the women and boys of the Romish persuasion, began to supply 
themselves with a weapon called a skein or knife, and a kind ot 


6 


half-pike ; it being the chief ern]>loyment of the smiths in the country 
to make this kind of arms for them. These women, who trained up 
their unhappy sons in the habit of robbery and bloodshed, entailed a 
severe curse upon the country, in the Kapparees, as they were 
called, “ a sort of Irish vultures,” says Mackenzie, “who followed 
the armies to finish the work of death, and prey upon the spoils of the 
field of battle.” The frequent conferences of the Popish Clergy in 
the county of Donegal, had excited great suspicion, particularly an 
account of some violent debates said to have arisen between the 
Priests and Friars about the execution of some great design. A ser¬ 
mon preached to the Popish garrison of Derry, in the open Market- 
house, in October .688, contributed much to alarm the Protestants, 
some of whom were among the hearers. The subject of this sermon 
was Saul’s treatment of the Amalekites, in which the preacher strong¬ 
ly insisted on the danger of sparing one of those whom Heaven had 
devoted to destruction. “God,” he said, “deserted Saul, and took the 
kingdom from him, and ruined both him and his family, for that very 
reason, as lie certainly would punish ail who should be guilty of a 
similar disobedience ; adding, that the people were always, as at 
that time, from Samuel, obliged to take their directions from their 
Clergy as from God, and punctually observe the same at the peril of 
their souls.” The application of all this, at such a juncture, was not to 
he mistaken even by persons of less sagacity than the people of Lon¬ 
donderry proved to he. Some of these Ecclesiastics were observed 
to buy fire-arms, and to get several chain-bridles made, a few of 
which were accidently found and seized by George Phillips, Esq. 
The Popish Priests now casting away all regard for a clerical appear¬ 
ance, assumed swords and periwigs, turned military commanders, 
and exercised the new raised soldiers. All the scum and rascality of 
the country were made officers : in every part of the Island Papists 
enlisted themselves, and their Priests suffered no. man % to come to 
mass that did not arm himself with a skein and an half-pike. 

By Colonel Phillips’ first letter from Nn-Limavady, it appeared 
that the Earl of Antrim’s regiment consisted of a much greater num¬ 
ber of men than was at first supposed ; the companies were eight in 
number, instead of six, which had been announced, and were attend¬ 
ed by a great number of women and hoys. In a second letter he 
expressed his sense of the danger of admitting such a crew into the 
city, and advised them to take care of their own safety. The mes¬ 
senger who brought this letter said that lie had left some of the fore¬ 
most companies within two miles of the town, the rest being on 

their wav. I be Protestant inhabitants were terrified : several of them 
* ' 

assembled in groups through the streets. The Apprentice Boys, 
with a mob of the lower orders along with them, muttered some¬ 
thing about shutting the gates ; they got some.private encouragement 


to do so at first, but that was soon retracted, and the minds of all Uru 
men ot weight fluctuated in a miserable doubt of the most prudent 
course to take. In the mean time two companies of the unwelcome 
regiment arrived at the Water-side, commanded by a Lieutenant and 
an Ensign. Their oft cere, leaving their men there, were ferried over, 
and waited on the Deputy Mayor and the Sheriffs, with tlieir autho¬ 
rity lor demanding admission. John Buchanan, the Deputy, a man 
secretly devoted to the interest of James, had no objection to stive the 
regiment the most honourable reception, but Horace Kennedy, one 
oi the Sheriffs, had given the ’Prentice Boys a secret bint during 
the preceding night, and they were at hand, prepared to shut th& 
gates against the regiment. While they wore in some consultation, 
with each other on the subject, the Irish soldiers, impatient at the 
delay ot their officers, or having, it was thought, some intimation of 
the nature ol the reception intended for them, and a strong desire to 
frustrate it, crossed the river, and appeared on the landing place, 
about three hundred yards from the ferry-gate. The voting men of 
the city observing* this, about eight or nine of them, whose names 
deserve to he preserved in letters of gold, viz.— Heniiy Campsie, 
William Crooksiianks, Robert Siierrard, Daniel Sher- 
kard, Alexander Irwin, James Stewart, Robert Morrison, 
Alexander Coningiiam, Samuel Hunt, with James Spike, 
John Coningiiam, William Cairns, Samuel Harvey, and 
some others who soon joined them, ran to the main guard, seized 
the keys after a slight opposition, came to the ferry-gate, drew up 
the bridge and locked the gate, Lord Antrim’s soldiers having ad¬ 
vanced within sixty yards of it. They then ran to secure the other 
throe gates, and having left guards at each of them, assembled in th®. 
market-place. 

This kindled an ardent spirit among the lower orders, and inor» 
youthful part of the inhabitants to defend the city, but there was still 
seme opposition to the measure ; the Deputy Mayor, strongly attach¬ 
ed to King James's interest, attended by the Sheriffs, came to the 
market-place attended by the two Popish officers, and others of the 
same persuasion, where, by promises and threats, they endeavoured 
to prevail on the people to throw the gates open to the King’s sol¬ 
diers, and they had taken the precaution to secure the magazine, by 
placing a guard of their own over it. The youthful heroes perceiving 
the measure, sent a party to counteract it, and Campsie, who led 
them, was wounded by a sentinel named Linegar, a reputed Papist. 
The circumstance of Protestant blood already flowing from a wound 
inflicted by such hands, at such a crisis, and in such a place, had 
an instantaneous and irresistable ('fleet. It was in vain that tin* 
Bishop added Us remonstrances to those which had been already 
used, talked of allegiance to an abdicated King, and preached 


peace ami submission. Mackenzie observes, u tint the dull beads 
of the men of Londonderry could not comprehend how it could 
be a great crime to shut the gates against those whom they be¬ 
lieved had been sent to cut their throats and Archbishop King 
observed afterwards, te that no man could blame the youthful he¬ 
roes for their decision on this occasion. They were startled even 

j n 

at the external appearance of the pack cf ruffians now approaching 
their city, attended by crowds of ferocious women and armed boys. 
M&ny of the captains and other officers of this regiment were well 
known there, having been long confined in the gaol for thefts 
and robberies. They came too at the time when a general mas¬ 
sacre of the Protestants was expected, and appeared to have been the 
persons appointed for the perpetration of it in that place, ready, 
it was believed, to ccommit such villainies on command, and not 
likely to wait for an order to do so. The Deputy Mayor s remon¬ 
strances were at last silenced by Alderman Gervais Squire, who 
called him a traitor to the liberties of Ireland and the Crown of 
bin gland ; and the companies which bad been indignantly waiting on 
the outside of the gates, were soon put to flight in a very ridiculous 
manner, for one James Morrison having warned them in vain to 
begone, called out aloud, “ bring about a great gun here” when 
they were instantly seized with a panic fright, anil hurried across 
the river to their disappointed companions. In the afternoon of tins 
day the gallant David Cairnes, of Knockmany, in the County of Ty¬ 
rone, a gentleman of high talent and great respectability, bred to the 
profession of the law, came into Londonderry, and expressed his 
full approbation of what had been done there on that morning. He 
commended the courage of the 'Prentice Boys, and assured them of 
his utmost assistance. He went round the walls, and to each of the 
gates, encouraging the guards and ceutinels, and after returning to 
the main-guard again to shew his full concurrence with them, lie 
went to the persons of respectability in the city, to persuade them of 
the necessity of their taking a similar course. In the evening of the 
same day several of them began to appear more openly than they 
had previously done in the matter, so that at night he came to the 
guard-house with Alderman Norman, Air. Jeminet, the Collector, 
Mr. Thomas Mencrief, Mr. James Lenox, and several ethers, who 
there wrote many letters to the gentlemen of the country, to acquaint 
them with what had been clone, to represent their common danger, 
and the necessity of their concurrence in the defence of the city. 
Various answers were returned, as might have been expected, some 
approving of the measure adopted, and promising their assistance, 
others discouraging what they considered to be a disloyal and hopeless 
enterprise. In the mean time, it Is scarcely necessary to add, good 
guards were kept within and without the walls of the city, on the 
night of this memorable day. 


9 


On the next day, Saturday the eighth of December, at an early hour, 
being in want of ammunition, the guards broke open the magazine, 
and took from it one hundred and fifty musquets, with some quantity 
of match, one barrel of gun-powder, and a proportionable number of 
musquet balls. The magazine contained only eight or nine barrels of 
powder, of which two or three were unfit foruse, and there were 
only two more in the city. There were hut few arms in order, which 
had been prepared for Lord Antrim’s regiment ; the rest, in number 
about one thousand, were much cut of repair. The Bishop, unable 
to stem the popular torrent, retired to his former residence, in the 
strong castle of Rapboe. A considerable number of the Protestants 
of the neighbourhood flocked into the city for safety, and a rumour 
of a design of the Papists who remained, and the brutal conduct of 
the regiment at the Waterside, drew many more of the people of the 
town, to take an active part in defence of it, and accelerated the de¬ 
parture of the greatest part of the Popish inhabitants, with an entire 
convent of Dominican Friars. 

The appearance of an adequate posture of defence was, however, 
as yet, but slight and discouraging. It appeared, on investigation, 
that those within the walls capable of bearing arms, did not amount 
to three hundred; the suburbs were not taken into account, but it 
was thought they could not furnish as many more. But the news 
which arrived from England this day served as a powerful incite¬ 
ment to exertion on the part of the Protestants. The morning’s post 
brought an account of the Prince of Denmark and the Duke of Or¬ 
mond joining the Prince of Orange, with others of high rank and 
great influence in England. A discharge of two of the best guns cm 
the Avails, to announce the joyful intelligence, operated in striking 
terror into the Irishmen and Highlanders on the other side of the 
river, many of whom had never before heard the sound of artillery;, 
and their terrified wives and children expected a shower of grape shot 
to succeed the thunder which assailed their cars. To complete 
their terror, one George Cooke, a butcher, drew up fifty or sixty 
boys on the city side of the river, which the terrified Irish mistook 
for the advanced guard of a regiment of Laganeers. This was the 
denomination of a regiment raised during the civil Avars, in that dis¬ 
trict of the county of Donegal, near Lough Swilly, called the Lagan, 
and famous for its A'ictories over the rebels. The consequence was, 
that the Avhole of the new raised regiment, armed‘only Avith skeins, 
clubs, and other such Aveapons" a3 kerns and tories used, Avith the 
women and children at their heels, betook themselves to a precipi¬ 
tate flight. The officers left their boots behind them, many of them 
having been best used to run barefooted, and the soldiers disregarded 
the incumbrance of their coats, in their eagerness to escape from an 
enemy, still separated from them by a broad and rapid river. 


10 


Their Colonel, the Karl of Antrim, then seventy three years of 
a ire, a veteran in courts and camps, accompanied by Mr. Phillips, 
of Nn-Limavady, met the panic struck regiment about a mile from 
the spot from which they had taken their flight, and having’ 
heard a very alarming story from them, thought fit to stop there 
and send forward Mr. Phillins to bring him word from the city, 
whether lie would he admitted there, and who commanded the gar- 
rison. it was with some difficulty that this venerable messenger was 
admitted, as coming from the enemy, although he had rendered an 
essential service to the city already, and had been Governor of it 
and the fort of Culmore during the civil wars. But it soon appearing 
that he was inclined to join them in their defence, the guard which 
they had placed over him was removed, but upon his own request to 
David Caimes, then in command, lie was publicly threatened with 
confinement if he did not concur with them. 


Mr. Phillips then wrote to inform the Earl of Antrim that lie had 
been detained in the city, and to discourage him from approaching, 
towards it, and that Nobleman returned to Coleraine to rally his 
scattered regiment. 


In the mean time it was thought prudent that a letter should he 
Written to Lord Motmfjoy, in whom they had great confidence, in¬ 
forming him of what had been done, and requesting his interposition 
with Lord Tyrconnel on their behalf. A copy of this document is 
given at the end of Mackenzie’s narrative, and it breathes but little 
of the spirit which animated the defenders of the city. On the same 
day there was a meeting of the nobility and gentry of the north-east 
of Ulster, who had a short time before associated themselves for the 
defence of their liberties and lives. They called themselves the An¬ 
trim Association ; Lord Massareen’s name stands at trie head of their 
spirited resolutions. They now sent an address to the Prince of 
Orange, and entrusted the delivery of it to James Hamilton, of Ban¬ 
gor, Esq. and a Mr. Osborne, each of whom afterwards raised a re¬ 
giment in defence of the Protestant Interest. 


The dreaded Sunday passed over without any attempts cn the part 
of the Romish population to carry the design imputed to them into 
execution. V» bother it was ever formed or not remains a profound 
mystery; but there can he no manner of doubt that they were mak¬ 
ing active preparations for civil war, in which they were equalled, 
if not outstripped, by the alarmed Protestants of Ulster. 


On Monday the tenth, Captain Forward and Mr. William Stewart 
brought two or three hundred horsemen into Londonderry, and Mr. 
John Cow^n, of St. Johnstown, a company of foot, which they of¬ 
fered for the public service. David Cairnes was unanimously "cho¬ 
sen to be mi agent for the distressed Protestants in London, and to- 


11 


gether with letters credential to the Prince of Orange’s Secretary, 
the principal magistrates and commanders in the city gave him a let¬ 
ter to the London Society, stating what had happened, and imploring 
their assistance, concluding in the following energetic manner :— 
“ We most humbly and heartily beseech you, as you are men of 
bowels and charity,- to assist this gentleman, how best you can, to 
secure us from the common danger, and that we may peaceably lire, 
obeying bis Majesty and the laws, doing injury to no man, nor wish¬ 
ing it to any. Your interest here is now no argument worthy to 
engage you ; the lives of thousands of innocent men, women, and 
children are at stake. If you can and will not now afford your help 
to the utmost, we shall never be able to use a motive to induce von. 
or to prevail upon you. May the Lord send deliverance to us, and 
preserve you all in peace.” The letter was signed first by George 
Phillips, who had re-assumed his old office as Governor of the City; 
Campsie, Norman, Tomkins, and others, also affixed their signa¬ 
tures to it. Cairnes was also supplied with a private key for the 
purpose of carrying on a secret correspondence. 

On the same day the people of the town were formed into six 
companies, under the command of the following officers:— 

1st—Captain Samuel Norman, Lieutenant William Crookshanks, and En¬ 
sign Alexander Irwin. 

2d—Captain Alexander Lccky, Lieutenant James Lenox, and Ensign John 
Harvey. 

3d—Captain Matthew Cocken, Lieutenant Henry Long, and Ensign Francis 
Hunt. 

4-th—Captain Warham Jemmet, Lieutenant Kobert Morrison, and Ensign 
Daniel Sherrard. 

5th—Captain John Tomkins, Lieutenant James Spaight, and Ensign Alex¬ 
ander Cunningham. 

6th—-Captain Thomas Moncrief, Lieutenant James Morrison, and Ensign 
William Macky. 

On Tuesday the 11th Mr. Cairnes set out for London, and on the 
same day Governor Phillips went to Nn-Limavady, where he raised 
two or three hundred horse, with which he returned in a few days. 
William Hamilton, of Mayagli, brought in two or three hundred 
more, who tendered their services to the general cause. 

In the mean time, the Irish in all places were assembled in great 
bodies, killing the cattle of die Protestants, and stealing one hundred 
or two at once in a night, so that many substantial gentlemen, 
who had been the owners of several, hundreds of black cattle 
and sheep had not one left, and for forty miles together in the pro¬ 
vince of Munster, the Irish cabins were full of beef stolen from the 
Protestants, which they did not so much as strew salt upon, hut, 
hung it up in the smoke, so that the best of it looked and smelled 
like carrion. It was computed that in nine days the- Irish stole ele- 

C 


rcu thousand head of cattle in that one Province, and at length ttr 
complete the miseries of those exposed to this cruel persecution, their 
houses were robbed and pillaged, so that many who had lived in 
great plenty and hospitality, now wanted the common necessaries of 
life, and had nothing left to preserve them from starving. 

The province of Connaught was in a state equally deplorable, and 
about this time several of tbe Protestant gentlemen of the counties 
of Sligo and Rosscommon, fled with their families into Enniskillen : 

O _ ' 9 

among these were Thomas Lloyd and Daniel Hudson, Esqrs., the 
former of whom signalized himself as Colonel of one of the regiments 
embodied there. 


On Thursday the 13th of December news arrived in Enniskilleii 
that the two companies of foot whose presence they so much feared, 
were on their march towards them, and on Friday the 14th, that 
they had arrived in Clones, within eighteen miles of them. The 
townsmen then sent again to all their neighbours, beseeching them to 
come to their relief, and offering them free quarters for man and 
horse. Upon this, many came into the town, resolved to stand firm 
to the last extremity, in defence of their lives and the Protestant re¬ 
ligion. 

Upon Saturday the 15tli of December, the men of Enniskillen 
wrote the following letter, directed to David Cairnes, Esq. or the 
other officers commanding in Londonderry:— 


“ Gentlemen —The frequent intelligence we have from all parts of this 
kingdom, of a general massacre of the Protestants, and two companies of foot 
of Sir Thomas Newcomen’s regiment, viz. Captain Nugent’s and Captain Slmr- 
.loe’s being upon their march to garrison here, and now within ten miles hath 
put us upon a resolution of refusing them entrance ; our desire beino* only to 
preserve our own lives, and the lives of our neighbours, this place bcin«-* the 
most considerable pass between Connaught and Ulster; and hearing ofk-our 
resolutions, we thought it convenient to impart this to you, as likewise to be*’ 
your assistance both in your advice and relief, especially in helping us with some 
powder, and in carrying on a correspondence with us hereafter, as we shall 
with God’s assistance, do with you, which is all at present. Gentlemen, from 
your faithful friends and fellow-cbristians. 


“ The Inhabitants of Enniskillen. 

,tl From Enniskillen, December 15, 1688. 

“ We arc not now in a condition to spare men for a guard, therefore must' 
entreat your assistance in that. 


“ Allen Catchcart. 
William Browning. 
Thomas Shore. 
William Smith. 


“ Archibald Hamilton. 
Malcome Cathcart. 
James Ewart. 

Robert Clarke.” 


Oil tliis day, being Saturday, the two foot companies came to 
Maguire’s bridge, on their way to Enniskillen; and within eight mile? 



13 


of it. On Sunday tlie 16th, at ten o’clock, word was brought into 
the town that they were on their inarch, and had arrived at Lisbei- 
Jaw. Most of the inhabitants of the town were in church at that 
time, but soon came out and got under arms, resolved to advance and 
meet the enemy. On being drawn out they were found to amount 
to about two hundred infantry, and one hundred and fifty horse. Of 
these a few were sent before the rest to parley with the companies 
and dissuade them from advancing, and they brought ale and some 
provisions to treat them in case of a compliance. Gustavus Hamil¬ 
ton, E?q. afterwards their Governor, joined them this day, with 
about one hundred horsemen, within a mile of the town, and at the 
game time a report reached them that the two companies advancing 
towards them had several horse loads of spare arms with them, for 
tiie purpose of arming some of the multitudes of the Popish pea¬ 
santry who flocked to them from all quarters. 

The Enniskillen horse now advanced towards these companies 
and their tumultuous adherents, and a view of them was sufficient 
to drive the whole rabble in confusion and precipitate flight hack 
to Maguire’s bridge. The officers of the two companies were at 
dinner in a gentleman s house, at some little distance from their 
men, when this happened, but they hastened to overtake them and 
cutstiip them in their flight. On the next day, Monday 17th, the 
fugitives arrived in Cavan, where they staid in great fear of the En¬ 
niskillen men, till they received orders from Tyrcomiel to march 
into other quarters. 

On the 18th cf December, Gustavus Hamilton, Esq. was una- 
pimously chosen Governor of Enniskillen. He immediately gave 
orders to raise two companies of foot in and about tlie town, under 
the command of Captains Allen and Mjdeome Cathcart, and in a 
very few days he formed a good troop of horse for himself, from his 
own estate and the neighbourhood of it, providing- them with all the 
arms and necessaries he could procure for them. He then removed 
his family from their dwelling-house into the castle of Enniskillen. 

The month of January, 1689, was spent by the men of Ennis¬ 
killen in the most active preparations for the defence of their town. 
They raised several additional troops of horse and companies of foot, 
in which they were much encouraged by hearing of the unfortunate 
James having disbanded his army, deserted his kingdom, and fled 
into France. The officers used the utmost endeavours-to get all 
the fire-arms which they could procure into a thorough slate of re- 
pair ; they caused a great number of pikes to lie made, and beat 
out many old scythes, fixing them on poles, by which means, 
in a very short time, the few foot then raised were in a tolerable 
posture of defence. When about twelve companies and some few 
troops were thus raised ami armed, they were formed into a regi¬ 
ment, of which the Governor was appointed Colonel, and Thomas 
Lloyd, 


17 


sq. Lieutenant-Colonel. 


14 


At this time the Prince of Grange, in compliance with the re¬ 
quest of both Houses of Parliament in England, and of the Pro¬ 
testants of Ireland, summoned the Earl of Tyrconnel, by a letter, 
to submit to the existing Administration in England. The delivery 
of the letter was entrusted to Colonel Hamilton, who promised to 
second it with his persuasions; but it was afterwards known that 
lie acted an underhand part, and used his utmost endeavours to 
prevent the Viceroy from complying with it. 

The Irish Lords, at the same time, pressed Tyrconnel to sur¬ 
render the Government, and he had already packed up most of his 
valuable effects, and put some of his treasure on board a ship in 
which it was supposed he intended to leave the kingdom. It 
M r as, however, suspected that he meant, by these indications, on¬ 
ly to gain time and perfect the new levies which he was al¬ 
ready engaged in making ; and these suspicions were confirmed 
by his privately issuing five hundred military commissions in 
one day. On the 4th of this month the gentlemen of the county 
of Sligo associated themselves, choosing Robert Lord Kingston, 
and Captain Cluldley Coote, their chief commanders. They then 
formed their force into troops and companies, and stationed them 
on the frontiers of their county to hold correspondence with Lon¬ 
donderry and the adjacent .places. 

The issuing of many commissions by Tyrconnel, for the pur¬ 
pose of raising an Irish army, continued to alarm the Protes¬ 
tants in all parts of Ulster, who were now confirmed in their reso¬ 
lution of putting themselves in the best possible state for defend¬ 
ing themselves. They held several consultations with each other, 
and some great men advised and encouraged them to take care 
of themselves in this manner. One of these, whose name he 
does not mention, left some instructions for the Rev. George 
Walker, Rector of Donaghmore and Erigle, in the County of 
Tyrone, recommending the necessity of securing the town of Dun¬ 
gannon by a Protestant garrison, and of securing a sufficient 
store of provisions in it for an emergency. Mr. Walker, although 
at an advanced period of life, having been twenty-six years Rec¬ 
tor of these Parishes, thought it not only excusable, hut neces¬ 
sary to interest himself on this occasion, and lie raised a regi¬ 
ment for the defence of that town. Gordon, the son of the rebel 
chief, Sir Phelim O'Neill, sent bis Priest to enquire why Mr. 
Walker took this course, and the Ecclesiastic returned with an 
answer, that so many Irish, as the Ulster Protestants denomi¬ 
nated Papists, had armed themselves in the country, and that he 
and his 'people thought fit to put ’themselves in a posture of 
defence. The new raised regiment, complaining of a want of cun- 
powder, were deceived by a stratagem, which induced them to 


believe that a sufficiency of it had been provided for them, and 
so were induced to take charge of the post assigned to them. 

In order to regain possession of Londonderry, Lord Tyrconnel 
now ordered Lord Mountjoy and Lieutenant-Colonel Lundy, with 
six companies of their regiment, to march from Dublin and take 
possession of it. A notice of this order was privately sent to the 
men of Derry by some of their friends in the metropolis, who added 
a strong caution against the admission of the regiment into the city. 
Wh en Lord Mountjoy came to Omagh, he sent Captain M‘Causland 
with a message to Derry, desiring that two or three of the citizens 
should meet him at Raphoe ; upon which Captain Norman and Mr. 
John Mogredge were sent to hear his proposals, who, on their re¬ 
turn, gave an assurance of the authenticity of the powers vested in 
Lord Mountjoy, and strongly advised a capitulation, in return for a 
free and general pardon for all that had passed. Lord Mountjoy 
having objected to those who had been sent to him for not having- 
had power to treat with him, charged them on their return to inform 
the citizens that he desired they would send commissioners to meet 
him at Mongevlin castle, near St. Johnstown. Accordingly Gover¬ 
nor Phillips, with Captain Alexander Tomkins, and Lieutenant Jas. 
Lenox, were empowered by the city to conclude a treaty with him. 
The terms they agreed to were, their getting a Protestant garrison, 
with liberty to keep their watches and arms as formerly, and also a 
free pardon under the great seal. These terms were, however, re¬ 
jected, and Lord Mountjoy dismissed them, saying, that he would 
go to the gates of the city the next morning, and demand entrance. 
On the return of the commissioners the stores were examined, and 
found to contain only six barrels of gun-powder, a few arms out of 
repair, most of the guns being unmounted for want of carriages. On 
the arrival of Lord Mountjoy, lie was delayed for some time outside 
the gate, while a strong altercation took place on the propriety of 
admitting him ; but the personal esteem in which he was so general¬ 
ly held there, prevailed, and he was at length suffered to enter.— 
His earnest endeavours to effect an accommodation were not disre¬ 
garded by tlie town’s people, and an agreement was made with them 
on their own terms, time enough to prevent any more forces being 
sent against them for the present. The commissioners on the part 
of the city were, Governor Phillips, Horace Kennedy, Esq. Captain 
Alex. Lecky, Captain Warham Jemmett, Captain John Forward, 
Captain George Canning, Lieutenant Henry Long, Lieutenant James 
Lenox, William Cunningham, and James Stewart, Esqrs. 

On the signing of the articles, Lundy was, for the better satisfac¬ 
tion of the citizens, sent to .Strabane to stop his six companies there, 
till one half of them, being Papists, should be dismissed, and some 
officers of the city were sent to see this done, and Protestants en¬ 
listed in their stead. There were, however, but two of these com- 


36 


panics received into Derry, under the command of Colonel Lundy 
and Captain Stewart, all of them Protestants. The other four com¬ 
panies, one-half of which consisted of Papists, were ordered to quar¬ 
ter at Strabane, Newtown-Stewart, and Raphoe, till thoroughly 
reformed. On these satisfactory measures being adopted, the citi¬ 
zens were fully satisfied that their interest might be safely entrusted 
to Lord Mountjoy, and Phillips resigned the government of it into 
lus hands. 

The new and noble governor immediately ordered live carriages of 
the guns to be placed, the fire-arms to be repaired, and every 
other necessary measure for the safety of the place to be adopted. 
Money was levied for this purpose by subscription, and a committee 
chosen for the expenditure of it. In a short time afterwards Lord 
Ivlassareene contributed a considerable sum of money, towards the de¬ 
fence of the city, and when the enemy afterwards were approaching 
the city, the garrison seized sixty tons of salmon, this Nobleman’s 
property, which had been deposited in a store-house near them, and 
carried it all away, except forty barrels, which fell into the hands 
of the besiegers. The money thus raised was sent into Scotland 
by Mr. James Hamilton, a merchant, to buy gun-powder and arms. 
He was able to provide only forty-two barrels of gun-powder, which, 
except ten of them left in the county of Down, arrived safe and 
were secured in the magazine. They also seized a small vessel which 
had been sent from Dublin with thirty barrels of gun-powder for the 
Earl of Antrim, and lay wind bound in the harbour at Killogh, in 
the county of Down. Ten of these they left in good hands for the 
country’s service there, and brought the remainder to Derry. All 
this was, however, too small a quantity for the emergency which 
they expected, and pressing letters were dispatched to their agents 
at London, to apply there for a greater supply. 

Tyrconnel now perceiving that he had fallen into a second error 
with respect to the citadel of civil and religious liberty in Ulster, by 
sending back Lord Mountjoy to command a garrison in it, devised 
a base stratagem, by the aid of Chief Baron Bice, and Neagle, the 
Attorney-General, to deprive the Protestants of the support they 
were likely to derive from the-talent and valour of this Nobleman. 
He was ordered to return to Dublin, which he did, in opposition to 
the entreaties of many of his friends, w ho assured him, as was real¬ 
ly the case, that the proposal of sending him to France on an errand 
to the fugitive King, was all a piece of artifice contrived to get liitn 
out of the way. He did not proceed on his fatal embassy, however, 
until he had obtained from Tyrconnel these general concessions to the 
Protestants:—1st, That no more commissions should be given out, 
and, no more men raised. 2d, That no more of the army should he 
sent to the North. 3d, That none should be questioned for what 
was passed; and 4th. that no private house should be obliged to 


17 


quarter soldiers. These terms were sent through all Ireland by let* 
ters, yet Lord Mountjoy was scarcely gone when the faithless Vice¬ 
roy denied he had granted them, and was angry at their having been 
published. In a very short time afterwards, news arrived that Lord 
Mountjoy was made a prisoner and sent to the Bastile, and this exas¬ 
perated the Protestants to a degree which rapidly accelerated the 
ruin of the Popish interest in Ireland* 

About this time the Rev. George Walker rode to Londonderry 
to consult Colonel Lundy on the defence of Dungannon, to which 
the latter, then in high repute for experience in war, and zeal for the 
Protestant interest, sent some files of disciplined men and two troops 
of dragoons, highly approving of what had been done for the safe¬ 
ty of that place. It does not appear, even by Walker’s own ac¬ 
count, that he had been in Derry before this time. On the 30th of 
thi3 month the castle of Kenagh, in the County of Longford, be¬ 
longing to Sir Thomas Newcomen, in which some Protestants had 
taken refuge, surrendered upon articles to Brigadier Nugent, who 
was soon afterwards killed by the Enniskilleners at Cavan. One of 
the articles was for the goods belonging to those in the house, and 
their friends, notwithstanding which, Nugent seized and took away 
several parcels of goods, and many of those who were in the castle 
were plundered and stripped naked. Another article was, that the 
mansion-house of Keriagh should not he burned nor injured, not¬ 
withstanding which, it was burned to the ground by Colonel Cohan- 
naught Maguire. These perfidious acts rendered the Protestants 
desperate, and all who could avail themselves of the resource, mov¬ 
ed towards the province of Ulster, to make the last stand among 
their intrepid fellow-sufferers there. About the same time thirty 
soldiers deserted from Dublin, and endeavoured to escape to Ennis¬ 
killen. They were pursued by one Captain Nugent with a party of 
horse, and overtaken near Navan. They put themselves in a posture 
of defence, and were ready to fire at him and his party, but he per¬ 
suaded them by fair promises to yield to him upon articles, without 
any other loss than that of their arms ; but as soon as they gave them 
up, he stripped and pinioned them., and it was by much interest that 
they escaped death, being reserved in a gaol until a more conve¬ 
nient time for executing them should arrive. 

On the 22d of this month the Presbyterian Ministers of Ireland, 
on behalf of themselves and their congregations, sent an address to 
the Prince of Orange, assuring him of their readiness to serve his 
interest to the utmost of their power. It was entrusted to two of 
their members, viz. Messrs. Patrick Adair and John Abernethy. 
This was their second Address to that Prince, to whom, on his arri v 
Val, they bad been the first to offer their congratulations and expres¬ 
sions of zeal for the success of his glorious undertaking. 

On tbs 28th of this month the Exmi?killenners sent Mr. Hugh 


18 


Hamilton and Mr. Allen * Cathcart, two of the most active men 
amongst them, with an address to the Prince of Orange, and with 
full power and instructions to act for them at the Court of England, 
to solicit for commissions, arms, ammunition, and money, for the 
defence of the place. They were ordered to make their way by 
Scotland, for their greater safety, and letters were sent by them to 
the Earl of Mount Alexander and the associated nobility and gentry 
of the North-East of Ulster, imploring their advice and assistance. 
Tyrconne! now ordered Colonel Lundy to bring the remaining four 
companies into Londonderry, which had been left at Strabane, New- 
townstewart, and Raphoe, and had not been cleared of the Popish 
soldiers, of which the one-half of them consisted. The Derry men, 
rather than lose so many serviceable muscuets, were induced to re- 
ceive them, when, with their usual spirit and prudence, they purged 
out the Papists, and supplied their place with Protestants, resolving 
to keep joint guards by detachments out of these six companies, and 
their own steady men. Upon this being reported to the Viceroy, 
he issued a proclamation to all parts of Ulster, forbidding the Pro¬ 
testants to assemble together, by way of troops or companies, &c. 
but the objects of his hostility were too sensible of the necessity of 
defending themselves, to pay any great deference to such a com¬ 
mand. It was treated with particular contempt at Londonderry, where 
Lundy’s management of affairs began to excite much displeasure.— 
Contrary to the consent of the Committee for the City, he had chosen 
a Colonel and Major to his regiment: he soon after forbade the City 
companies to keep their guards, refused them ammunition, and when 
upon a remonstrance being made, he restored the guards, lie would 
allow but one City officer to each, and endeavoured to bring them 
under the command of his own officers. 

Soon after the departure of Lord Mount joy, a French Engineer 
landed at Cork, and travelled with all expedition to Dublin, assuring 
Tyrconnel that King James would be suddenly with him, and that 
nothing was to be feared from England for several months. All men 
had recollected the error of Charles II. in not coming into Ireland 
dining the civil wars, and therefore on the arrival cf this news, the 
aspect of affairs quickly altered. The hopes which had hitherto sup¬ 
ported the spirits of the Protestants, now utterly vanished. De¬ 
spair occupied their place, and they associated themselves in all places, 
getting into castles and other places of strength for the preservation 
of their lives. Those who had already taken strong positions, and put 
themselves in a condition to make a defence, were now commanded 
by proclamation to return to their respective homes, on pain of being 
prosecuted for high treason. Matters at last came to such an extre¬ 
mity, that the Protestants were driven to a state of warfare, on the 
principle of self-preservation, and Lord Kingston, Sir Arthur Raw- 
don, and others endeavoured to secure some strong holds in which 


19 


'they might hope to make a stand against their persecutors. But mat¬ 
ters were so indiscreetly managed, and the vigilance of their enemies 
was to great, that all their efforts proved fruitless ; their inconsider¬ 
able forces were soon defeated, and almost all the Protestants 
throughout the kingdom, except those of Londonderry and Ennis¬ 
killen, were disarmed in a very short space of time. The gates 
were shut up in cities and towns, and none were suffered to pass 
through them without being strictly searched for arms. Tim houses 
were examined, and plate and money seized and carried away as well 
as arms. r .ft)e horses of the gentlemen and farmers were seized for 
the King’s service, ami brought into the garrison towns, where the 
Popish soldiers lived at free quarters in the houses of Protestants, by 
which these unfortunate people were reduced to such a state, that 
many of them were not left a morsal to eat or a bed to rest upon. 

Matters, however, wore a better appearance in England at this 
time, for on the 28th of this month, (January,) the Parliament of 
England resolved, that “ King James II. having endeavoured to 
subvert the Constitution of the Kingdom, by breaking the original 
compact between the King and the People, and hy the advice of Je¬ 
suits and other wicked persons, having violated the fundamental laws, 
and having withdrawn himself out of the kingdom, had abdicated 
the Throne, which was thereby become vacant.’’ 

The next day the Commons voted, that it had been found hy ex¬ 
perience to be inconsistent with the Protestant Kingdom of England 
to be governed by a Popish Prince ; and they also presented an ad¬ 
dress to the Prince of Orange. 

Tyrconnel, .in the mean while, continued his violence against the 
Protestants of Ireland, and the acts of all his subordinate agents 
were characterised by a degree of treachery inseparable from cruelty. 
Among many other instances of a similar usage of Protestant gentle- 
men, the treatment of Captain Barton, of Carrickmacross, in the 
County of Monaghan, has been recorded by Archbishop King. This 
gentleman had a protection for his house and arms at that place, and 
had left his servants in it, while lie remained in Dublin, as an hostage 
to the government, which suspected him of a design to join the Pro¬ 
testants in arms at Londonderry or Enniskillen, then at open war 
against them ; yet, in his absence, a party of Colonel MacIvXahon’s 
regiment went to the house about the first of February, in this year, 
and demanded the possession of it. The servants shewed their pro¬ 
tection, and told the officer commanding the soldiers, that they had 
order's from the Government to keep the house : the commander as¬ 
sured them tlfat he would not disturb them, and that he only designed 
o lodge some of his men in it, to secure it more effectually for the 
King and the owner—upon which promise the servants let him and 
ms men into the house. As soon as they had got entrance, they 

T) 


20 


began to plunder, destroy, and deface whatever they did not tabs 
away with them, and in a few hours, by ruining his improvements, 
and robbing him of stock, furniture, and other moveables, they in¬ 
jured him nearly to the value of ten thousand pounds. He complained 
to the Government of this treacherous and cruel treatment, but could 
obtain no redress; new injuries were added to those already indicted 
upon him, and at last his house was burned to the ground. 

The month of February was spent by the Enniskilleners in meetings 
and negociations with Colonel Lundy and the leading men of the 
counties of Londonderry, Tyrone, Donegal, Cavan, and other parts 
of the country. The Protestants of the North-East Counties, had, 
as already noticed, entered into associations for securing the Protes¬ 
tant religion, their lives, liberties, and properties, and now orders 
were issued that the Protestants in the North-West of Ulster should 
form themselves into troops and companies, and afterwards into regi¬ 
ments, and all agreed that in ease of extremity they should submit to 
the command of Colonel Lundy, whose reputation stood very high 
for conduct and experience in military affairs, but whose treachery 
and cowardice they at that time had not so much as suspected. The 
gentlemen of the county of Fermanagh held a meeting, at which they 
resolved to raise two regiments of foot, and a regiment of horse ; hut 
the Rev. Andrew Hamilton, in his account of the actions of the 
Enniskillen men, sa} r s, that by reason of the backwardness to the ser¬ 
vice, manifested by some of these gentlemen, those regiments were 
not raised, so that the great stress of the country, as he terms it, 
was left upon the Governor of Enniskillen, and those gentlemen who 
adhered to him. 

On the first of this month, the English House of Lords rejected 
a motion to place the Prince and Princess of Orange on the Throne. 
The majority on this occasion was only five in number, and the re¬ 
jection of this measure, which was so soon afterwards adopted, arose 
from an artful party among the Lords, which aimed at rendering the 
settlement of the Government impracticable in any other way than 
recalling King James and his infant son, measures odious to the great- 
body of the Protestants of the nation, who had so severely smarted 
under the tyranny of the father, and who very generally supposed 
the son to be a supposititious child, thrust into the succession to the 
throne by a Jesuitical device. A petition was drawn up in Lon¬ 
don, to be presented to the Lords, desiring, in plain terms, that 
the Prince and Princess of Orange should be settled on the throne, 
and signatures of a multitude of persons of all ranks and descriptions 
appeared to it, so that it might fairly he considered as an expression, 
of the general sense of the people. But the Prince, with his charac¬ 
teristic nobleness of soul, scorning this mode of proceeding, sent 
orders to the Lord Mayor to put a stop to this tumultuous proceed* 


21 


nig, which was accordingly done. After several debates, and the 
Princess’s refusal to he Queen alone, it was at last agreed upon by 
both Houses of Parliament, that the Prince and Princess of Orange 
should he King” and Queen of England. On the twelfth of this 
month the Princess arrived in England, well pleased at what had been 
done, and the strict union of sentiment and affection between 
her and her illustrious husband, entirely frustrated the designs of 
a powerful party, which had hoped, by causing a misunderstand¬ 
ing” between them, to find occasion to serve their old master_- 

On the next day, William and Mary being seated on two large chairs 
tinder a canopy of state in the banquetting-house, both Houses of 
Convocation waited upon tljem in a full body, and after a declaration 
of the rights of British subjects was read to them, the Speaker of 
the House of Lords made a solemn tender of the Crown to their 
Highnesses, in the name of both Houses of Parliament. The answer 
of the Prince was such as became him, brief and heroic; he acknow¬ 
ledged the offer to he the greatest proof of the trust reposed in his 
royal Consort and himself. He accepted it thankfully, observing, 
that as he had no other intention in coming into England than to 
preserve the religion, laws, and liberties of the Realm, they might 
be assured that he would endeavour to support them, and he nulling' 
to concur in every measure for the advancement of the welfare and 
glory of the nation. A burst of acclamation resounded through the 
House on the conclusion of this Speech; it flew with electric rapidity 
over the City, was re-echoed with joy through the three Kingdoms, 
and on the same dav thev were ^reclaimed King and Queen of Great 
Britain, France, and Ireland. 

In the mean time the Romish party in Ireland was encouraged in 
their intolerable aggressions on the Protestants, by daily reports of 
the landing of King James at Cork. Almost every post brought a, 
false alarm of the tyrant’s arrival —bonfires were made, and guns dis¬ 
charged in several garrison towns, in honour of an event looked upon 
as the finishing stroke to all opposition to the dominion of Popery 
jn the Island, 

Early as it was in the year, General Hamilton was sent with an 
army into Ulster, and the Judges entered on that circuit a full month 
before the usual time of the Spring Assizes. The pretext for this 
extraordinary measure, was, to punish the thieves and robbers who 
bad plundered the Protestants, but the design was to condemn these 
poor men of the Reformed Religion, who had taken up arms to de¬ 
fend their houses against these villains,* and also to extort from them 
the means of supporting that army which had been raised for their 
destruction, there being at that time, from a ruinous management 
of the public affairs, little or no money left in the Exchequer. These 
Judges, immediately after opening” their Commission, read a 


from the Government to the principal men in each of the counties, 
and to the Protestant Minister and Popish Priest of every parish, 
requiring- them to summon the inhabitants of eacli parish together, 
and cause them to subscribe to the utmost of their ability for the 
subsistence of the King’s forces, assuring them, that his Majesty 
would soon be at the head of his loyal subjects in Ireland, with a 
considerable assistance from the King of France, and that they who 
had no money should send in meal, malt, beef, cheese, butter, her¬ 
rings, leather, brogues, stockings, wool, cloth, linen, or any other 
articles of provision or clothing which the country afforded. By this 
crafty measure, the Protestants were exposed to inevitable ruin, and 
the little they had left was now drawn from them for the mainte¬ 
nance of their persecutors. General Richard Hamilton, who com¬ 
manded the army sent to the North at this time, and who afterwards 
became so distinguished in the war which ensued, was the fifth sou 
of the gallant Sir Geoi£e Hamilton, of Donalonge, in the county of 
Tyrone, and Nenagh, in the county of Tipperary—an officer whose 
services in the cause of Charles I., as Colonel of a regiment of foot, 
had been eminently conspicuous, and were highly rewarded. 

The war was now commenced against the Protestants, and pro¬ 
secuted in all directions with vigour proportioned to the fears of Tyr- 
eonnel, and the apprehension of tbe Popish Clergy, that unless their 
crusade against the reformed Faith were brought to a termination in 
a short time, the opportunity of regaining their lost ascendancy 
would be gone for ever. At the same time that Hamilton marched 
for the North, Lord Gahnoy, afterwards so notorious for his perfidy 
and cruelty, was sent with a strong body of forces to guard the passes 
between Connaught and Ulster, for the purpose of preventing the 
Protestants on the western side of the Shannon from joining their 
more numerous friends in the Northern Counties. He was the son 
and successor of Edward, second Viscount Galmoy. On the 6th of 
August, 1677, he was created Chancellor of the University pf Oxford; 
he first commanded a troop of horse in the Royal Guards, and was 

afterwards Colonel of foot in James’s new raised Irish army; he was- 
< • . •> 7 
also Lord Lieutenant of the county of Kilkenny. One of his dra- 

goons, on their march to the North, met with the wife of a Clergy¬ 
man, who had fled to Derry or Enniskillen, and according to the 
dreadful report recorded in Burton’s History of Ireland, several of 
them, one alter another, ravished her, and afterwards cut open her 
body, leaving it exposed in a most savage manner, along with the 
body of a dead man. About the same time, a Protestant gentleman, 
in the county of Tipperary, seeing some of Tyrconnel's dragoons com¬ 
ing towards his house late in tiie evening, shut and barred his doors, 
as if the family had retired to bed. Upon this, sixteen of them ad¬ 
vanced to thp hall doer, and not being quickly admitted, they broke, 


23 


it open, calling the owner of the house a traitor for shutting it against 
the King’s troops. They then pillaged the house of all the valuable 
articles in it, and, horrid to relate, they violated the gentleman’s only 
daughter before his face. Thirteen of the ruffians abused her while 
she was expiring, and three of them after she was actually dead.— 
{Such, at this melancholy time in Ireland, was the dominion of tliai 
power which exalts itself against God. 

The Protestants of the West County of Cork had for the three 
preceding years been severely persecuted by their Popish neighbours; 
they were robbed and plundered of their furniture and cattle in the 
open day-light, which terrified them so much, that, leaving their 
homes and the little which had been left in them, they now Hocked 
into walled towns for the preservation of their lives: the Irish, in 
this triumph, grew so insolent, that they went in great bodies thro* 
the country, with pipers playing before them, and gathered in the 
remains of the property of the unhappy objects of their fury. These 
robberies appeared, from the confession of Chief Justice Nugent, to 
be designed by the Government, and he boasted of the policy of such 
a proceeding. At the Assizes of Cork, he publicly called such rob¬ 
beries necessary evils, and from the beginning he took no care to sup¬ 
press them. On the twenty-eighth day of February, in this year, the. 
Protestants of Bandon hearing that the Earl of Clancarty was march¬ 
ing with six companies to reinforce the troop of horse, and two com¬ 
panies of foot there, commanded by Captain Daniel O'Neill, disarmed 
the garrison, killed some soldiers, took possession of all their horses 
and arms, and would have done much more had they been assisted. 
They shut their gates, and generously refused to give up any of their 
leaders, hut at last purchased their pardon for a thousand pounds, 
with the demolition of their walls, which were then razed to the 
ground, and have never since been built. In a letter of the first of 
March, preserved among Sir Richard Cox’s manuscripts, Tyrconnel 
expresses his sorrow that this treaty had been made until the authors 
of this disturbance were punished. 

The chief actor in disarming the Popish garrison at Bandon, on 
this occasion, was William Fortescue, of Nevvrath, in the county of 
Louth, a Captain in the Earl of Clancarty’s regiment of foot. After 
James’s abdication, he associated himself with the Earl of Inchiquin. 
and other Protestants of the province of Munster, for self-preserva¬ 
tion, and on this, their first success, they proclaimed King William 
and Queen Mary. This service exposed Captain Fortescue to the 
resentment of the Irish, by whom he was afterwards a very great 
sufferer; for the Earls of Inchiquin, Barrymore, and others, being 
deprived of their commissions, he narrowly escaped with conditions 
for his life, in the surrender of Mallow, upon articles with Lieut.- 
General MacCartby; and the Earl of Clancarty, in mere prejudice 


24 


to his firm adherence to the Protestant interest, not only detained 
above an hundred and fifty pounds of his money, which he got into 
his hands, but soon afterwards, in breach of his articles, robbed him 
of two hundred pounds worth of his substance, and committed him 
to the gaol of Cork, among thieves and vagabonds, where he kept 
him in restraint above eleven months, with daily threats of death, 
refusing him all subsistence, bail, or exchange. This same Clancarty, 
on his march towards Derry with his regiment, commanded the com¬ 
panies disarmed at Bandon by Captain Fortescue, to revenge them¬ 
selves, by plundering his house in the county of Louth, while he lay 
in gaol an hundred and thirty miles distant. They took away all lu^ 
stock and goods, to the amount of fifteen hundred pounds, burned 
and destroyed his dwelling-house and improvements, stripped his 
family, and left them so miserably exposed, that some of his children 
died of the severe usage they received. 

✓ 

This gallant gentleman was son of Sir Thomas Fortescue, of 
Dromiskin, Knight, who was cashiered by Tyrconnel from the go¬ 
vernment of Carrickfergus, and committed a prisoner to the Castle 
of Dublin, where he lay confined with many other noblemen and 
military officers, until they were released in consequence of the victory 
at the Boyne. In the mean time, the Protestants of the North-East 
of Ulster proclaimed King William and Queen Mary in the principal 
towns of that district. They made an unsuccessful attempt to reduce 
Carrickfergus, and after their refusal to obey a proclamation to lay 
down their arms, General Hamilton advanced against them with a 
considerable body of troops. They retired from Newry to Dromore, 
where they were overtaken and routed by the enemy, who, being 
greatly superior in numbers, slaughtered them most unmercifully 
in the pursuit. They stopped at Hillsborough, but were soon obliged 
lo fiy from the town and castle in which they had posted themselves, 
and continued their precipitate retreat. About four thousand of them, 
kept together by the spirited exertions of Lord Mount Alexander and 
Sir Arthur llawdon, reached Coleraine and took their station there, 
in order to prevent the enemy from crossing the river Bann; and at 
the same time, the Protestants of the North-West of Ulster poured 
into Enniskillen and Londonderry, as their last places of refuge. 

About this time, a large party of the Popish horse and foot sud¬ 
denly entered Cork at midnight, and disarmed all the Protestants of 
that city. The next day they seized all their horses, and broke into 
the houses of several of the principal citizens, whom they robbed of 
great sums of money. Similar outrages were committed in the neigh¬ 
bouring towns. Lieutenant-General MacCarthy having thus, with the 
spoil of the Protestants, eucreased Iris horse, and added to the number 
and equipments of his foot, marched with two field pieces towards 
Castlewartyr, the seat of Colonel Henry Boyle, who had with him 


iTiore about an htindred and forty gentlemen and servants, to defend 
themselves against the attacks of the Papists. He was persuaded by 
his friends to make no resistance, on the promise of the Lieutenant- 
General that neither their persons nor estates should be molested; 
hut without any regard to this promise, the house was plundered, 
and Colonel Bovle, with many of the gentlemen he had with him, 
were carried prisoners to Cork. 

On Wednesday the twelfth of March King James landed at Kin- 
sale, and proceeded to Cork, where, on Sunday the sixteenth of the 
lame month, he heard mass in a new chapel erected there by the 
Franciscan Friars. As the Royal bigot passed through the streets 
on his way to the mass-house, lie was supported by two of these 
Friars, and attended by many others in their habits. He was re¬ 
ceived and entertained by Donough, Earl of Clancarty, who was 
made one of the Lords of the Bedchamber, and appointed to the 
command of a regiment in the Royal Guards, and also Clerk of the 
Crown and Peace throughout the Province of Munster. Tyrconnei 
met his Royal master in Cork, who immediately created him a Duke 
for his services, and the life of a Protestant Magistrate, one Brown, 
a gentleman worth five hundred pounds a-year, in that county, was 
sacrificed on the occasion. Brown had been in arms against the 
Rapparees, and, as the Assizes were going on when the King arrived, 
he put himself on his trial, expecting that in case of his condemna¬ 
tion, the Royal Visit would insure him a pardon—but in this he was 
sadly mistaken ; far from being wise or humane enough to begin with 
such an act of mercy, if not justice, the deluded monarch gave an 
appalling proof of the cruelty of his disposition, by leaving the un¬ 
fortunate gentleman to his fate, who was immediately hanged and 
quartered. 

In the meantime about three thousand of the Irish being garrisoned 
in the Fort of Charlemont, and attempting to plunder the Protes¬ 
tants in the neighbourhood of Armagh, Lord Blaney had frequent 
skirmishes with them, in which he constantly prevailed to their great 
loss, until the thirteenth of March, when, being informed that his 
eastle of Monaghan had been taken by the rapparees, and that all the 
Protestant forces in that quarter had retreated to Glasslough, where 
they were closely besieged by the enemy, and hearing also that Sir 
Arthur Rawdon had quitted Loughbrickland, and that the Irish ar¬ 
my under General Hamilton had possessed themselves of that place, 
he* called a council of war, in which it was resolved to march the 
next day to relieve their friends in Glasslough, and afterwards to 
proceed with them through Dungannon, to join those who had alrea¬ 
dy retreated into the County of Antrim; but Lady Blaney and the 
Protestants shut up in Glasslough were relieved in the mean time by 
valour of Matthew Amketell; Esq. who had suddenly collected 


2(J 


f m> troops of horse and three companies of foot. The Irish had re¬ 
trenched themselves in a Danish fort, situated on a commanding 
eminence, and from this position kept up a heavy fire on the Protes¬ 
tants who advanced against them Anketell, however, intrepidly led 
his gallant band into the fort, from which he dislodged his terrified 
adversaries, and pursued them with slaughter, but he was skin him¬ 
self in the hour of victory. Major John M‘Kenr,a, who commanded 
six hundred of the Irish on this occasion, was taken prisoner, with 
his son, and eighty-nine of his men left dead on the field. It was 
with difficulty that the victors were prevailed upon not to sully their 
glory by murdering the captive chieftan, in revenge for the death of 
their beloved Anketell, whose remains were buried with great solem¬ 
nity in the aisle of the church of Glasslough, where a plain tomb¬ 
stone in the floor records his untimely death in maintenance of the 
Protestant religion. After the battle, Lady Blaney and her party es¬ 
caped to Londonderry with two troops of horse and three companies 
of foot. 

The Protestant Association having, in the moan time, received 
fresh assurances of support from England, proclaimed King William and 
Queen Mary in the North Eastern towns of Ulster, and even ventured 
to make an attack upon the Castle of Carrickfergus, in which, how¬ 
ever, they were unsuccessful ; and after General Hamilton, as already 
mentioned, had driven them from Newry, Dromore, and Hillsborough, 
Lord Mount Alexander and Sir Arthur Rawdon kept four thousand 
men in arms at Coleraine, while those of the North-West district 
sought refuge either in Enniskillen or Londonderry. 

On the fourteenth of this month, Count Lauzun and the Marquis 
de Lcry landed at KinsrJe with five thousand French troops, anti 
King James sent hack as many Irish under the command of Major- 
General Macarty. Lord Blaney kept possession of the city of Ar¬ 
magh, after his Lady had escaped to Derry, until lie was nearly sur¬ 
rounded on all sides by strong parties of the enemy. He had been 
promised reinforcements by Governor Lundy from Derry, but being 
disappointed in them, he resolved to march on the Tyrone and Lon¬ 
donderry side of Lough Neagh, and the lower Emin, to Coleraine, 
with his little army, consisting of seven troops of horse and eight 
companies of foot. With a view to intercept him, twelve hundred 
men were rapidly hurried forward from the forts of Charlemont and 
Mountjoy, to seize the pass at Artrea bridge, and five hundred more 
were dispatched to attack him in the rear. Lord Blaney, however 
reached the bridge about a quarter of an hour before his opponents 
arrived there, where he halted, gave battle, and killed one hundred 
and fifty of them, driving many others into the river, where they 
were drowned. The rest fell back in confusion, and lie made good 
his masterly retreat to Coleraine. Some companies of Lis army 


27 


however, winch had endeavoured to escape on the eastern side of 
the lake, were not so fortunate ; they were overpowered and disarm¬ 
ed near the town of Antrim. On the sixteenth, the Enniskillen-men, 
\vho five days before had proclaimed King' William and Queen Mary 
with great solemnity, received an account that the garrison of Dun¬ 
gannon was deserted by order of Colonel Lundy, and that they, and 
all the inhabitants in the country about Dungannon, had fled towards 
Strabane and Londonderry. At the same time, their Governor re¬ 
ceived letters from Lundy, acquainting him, that it was concluded 
by their Committee, to order all the forces in the North-West of 
Ulster to draw towards Derry and the Lagan, for the purpose of 
making their stand on the Donegal side of the Fin water: the letter 
contained a very melancholy account of the condition of the garrison 
of Derry. The Enniskillen-men, however, resolved not to forsake 
their town, and their heroic maintenance of that important pass be¬ 
tween Connaught and Ulster, contributed in an eminent degree to 
the security of Derry and the country about it. 

Two days after the arrival of the French forces in Kinsale, Sir 5 
Thomas Southwell and his brother, and a considerable number of 
other Protestants, were brought to trial in Galway, before Judge 
Martin. The charge against them was, that upon the surrender of 
Mallow, they had attempted to force their way to join Lord Kingston, 
then at Sligo, in arms against King James. It appeared that in their 
journey they had several skirmishes with the Irish, without any con¬ 
siderable loss, until James Power, the Sheriff of Galway, hearing of 
their approach towards that part of the country, raised ’the posse 
comitalus and attacked them in a narrow pass, to which they had been 
led by emissaries he had sent to act as guides to them. They sur¬ 
rendered to him, on conditions that on giving up a stipulated pro¬ 
portion of their horses and arms, they should have passes, protections, 
and a convoy, if necessary. They were brought that night to Lough- 
rea, for convenience of lodging, and on the next morning, instead of 
obtaining a convoy, which the Irish had agreed to give them, they 
were secured by strong guards, and informed that they could not ho 
released until the pleasure of Government should he known, to which it 
was alleged that a favourable statement of their case had been made. 
Sir Thomas immediately dispatched a gentleman to Dublin, to petition, 
the State for a performance of the articles of surrender; the suit was 
rejected without hesitation, and they were all removed to the County 
Court-house of Galway, where they remained in a deplorable con¬ 
dition until they were now brought to trial. Judge Martin, to 
save the. trouble of a trial, prevailed oii them to plead guilty, assuring 
them of the lenity of King James, then newly arrived in Ireland ; they 
did so, and of course were convicted, and the next, day he sentenced 
-fiiem all death. They had no subsistence whatever but from the 


25 


Protestants of the town, anti after a fortnight’s imprisonment, received 
a reprieve for a month: tins was renewed for three months, and after¬ 
wards for six, on a promise from their friends to obtain an equal 
number of Popish prisoners from England, in exchange. In the course 
of their imprisonment, some of them Wefe accused of attempting an 
escape, On which the Earl of Clanrickard sent them word by his 
Major, that as they had abused the King’s meVcy, and held corres¬ 
pondence with the Northern Rebels, he commanded them to prepare 
for that death which they had a second time deserved. They remon¬ 
strated by petition ; lie replied, Ort Friday, that though he would 
permit them to send no message to the King, he would give them 
time to repent. This answer caused them to give up all hopes of 
life, and they Were assured that the ensuing Monday or Tuesday was 
appointed for their execution. On Monday morning they were 
alarmed with the noise of many drums, which tliev took tor the 
signal of their execution, and whilst preparing for it in the common 
hall, they were offered their lives, if they renounced the Protestant 
religion. They however unanimously resolved to die in the faith for 
which they had already suffered so much, and in a short time after¬ 
wards, Colonel MacDonnel, Governor of the town, sent them word 
to be of good courage, for that all which had passed was only a frolic 
of Lord Clanrickards, to frighten them into better maimers and greater 
Bobriety* After the ineffectual efforts of the Earl of Seaforth to obtain 
their pardon, they remained in custody until the second of January, in 
the ensuing year. It may be reckoned among the “ ludibria rerum 
that a noble descendant of this Sir Thomas Southwell, should exchange 
the Protestant for the Popish religion, although more than twenty 
noble Irish families have renounced the errors of the Church of 
Home since the Revolution. 

In this month, under the authority of an Order from Tyrconnel, 
the officers of the Irish army seized the goods, houses, lands, and 
other substance, of all the Protestants who had fled out of Ireland, oi‘ 
Were absentees from it, from minority, bad health, or other causes. 

On the twenty-fourth of March, James made his public entry into 
Dublin in a triumphant manner, attended by a long train of British, 
French, and Irish, together with Count de Avaux, the French Am¬ 
bassador. The Magistrates of the City, and the Popish Ecclesiastics, 
met him in their proper habits, with the host borne before them in 
solemn procession. The King howled down before it, and made his 
adoration, amidst the acclamations of a surrounding multitude. He 
took an early opportunity of dismissing the only tw r o Protestants of 
rank or distinction in his army, merely on account of their religion ; 
lie refused the gallant Sarsfield commissions for two of that officer's 
Protestant relatives, saying, that he would trust none of their religion; 
raid on coming out from mgss ? immediately after his arrival in thf 


trietropolis, was heard to say, that “ a Protestant stunk in his nos? 
trils.” He had now a second opportunity of manifesting the cruelty 
of his disposition, and the rooted hatred he entertained to Protest-, 
ants. The wife of a man named Maxwell, who had been condemned 
to death for defending his house in the Queen’s County against the 
Itapparees, presented a petition to him to pardon her husband ; sho 
had, by her piteous cries, prevailed upon the Sheriff to grant her a 
reprieve for fifteen days, contrary to the order of the cruel Lord Gat- 
raoy, and she now appeared before the King in the most lamentable 
condition, having four or five small children along with her, all in. 
tears. JShe delivered her petition on her knees, praying his Majesty 
to pardon, or even reprieve her husband for a short time. Many of 
the Irish nobility were present, and, struck with the woeful appear¬ 
ance of the Vo‘«an and her weeping children, seconded her request 
with great earnestness'; but the reply of the brute was, “woman, 
your husband shall die f ' .The Sheriff received a rebuke for bis hu¬ 
manity, and was commanded to hang the man immediately, which 
was accordingly done. This example added a stimulus to the fury of 
the Romish soldiers against the Protestants, who were treated in the 
City, and under the immediate eye of the Government, in the most 
barbarous manner. No Protestant could be out of his house after 
sunset, without danger of his life ; several of them were assassinated, 
and among them a poor tapster of an alehouse on the Wood Quay, 
who was thrown into the Liffey and drowned, merely as a frolic, and 
no notice whatever taken of it. Richard Burton, v/hq records this 
and other cruelties practiced at that time in Dublin, observes, that 
considering the example of James, and the hatred of the Romish 
Ecclesiastics to the Protestants, it appears to have been'evidently 
providential that a general massacre was not attempted, as it hau been 
in 1641. ‘ '* **** L * > 

i t 

In the midst of this cruel exercise of “ brief authority,” the Tyrant’^ 
heart was desponding, nor could the utmost sycophancy of the ad¬ 
dresses which were poured in upon him, dissipate his fears. He beheld 
with dismay, the undisciplined, half armed ruffians, whom Tyrconnel 
had collected and vainly endeavoured to form into an army. No 
stor.es of ammunition or provision, of any consequence, had been pro¬ 
vided, and little mqre than eight hundred musquets could be found 
in any of the depositories. There was not one piece of battering 
cannon mounted through the wfioie island. His field artillery did not 
exceed twelve pieces, and he had only two small mortars in a condition 
for use. His first care after his arrival in Dublin and ordering the 
execution of the Carlow Protestant, was to set the people at work 
to make arms for his troops, but all the workmen he could procure 
wore Protestants, and he complained, probably with reason, that 
they worked unwillingly and interposed as many difficulties and delays 


so 


they possibly could. There was also a scarcity of tools and imple¬ 
ments of every kind, so that no more than fifty musquets could be 
manufactured in a week. He was also in a miserable state for want 
of money, and found it difficult to provide pay for bis army, al¬ 
though he had reduced it to the number of thirty thousand men, by 
the dismissal of a multitude of non-efficient men which Tyrcon- 
nel had indiscreetly added to it. The whole amount of the money 
given to bin) by the King of France was four hundred thousand 
crowns, and the country, already destroyed by the depredations of 
his soldiers, was no longer able to maintain them by plunder. James 
was in a wretched condition now ; on the one hand he was assailed 
by the complaints of rede men and angry officers, the latter of a class 
little superior to the former; and on the ether he was controuled in 
ali bis designs and actions by Count D’Ayoux, who, in the capacity 
of an Ambassador sent with him from Frauce, was in reality a spy 
upon all his measures, which he resolved to turn to the advantage 
of his own ambitious master. This foreigner was associated with the 
Duke of Tyrconnel and Lord Melfort, in a council, where every 
matter relating to Ireland tvas debated, and from them nominally, 
but from D’Avaux, in reality, every decision proceeded. With the 
view of injuring England in her staple manufacture, tl is council pro¬ 
hibited the exportation of Irish wool into it, allowing it at the same 
time to he exported into Fiance. In return for their wool, the Irish 
were to receive hack from France her manufactured cloth, her wines, 
and other luxuries, duty free. A blind hatred to England and the 
Protestant religion, prevented the Popish multitude from seeing the 
ruinous tendency of such a commercial arrangement, and their hi- 
gotted Kin<r, a pensioner of France, dared not to breathe a remon¬ 
strance against them. 

On the twentieth of March all the Protestants of the county of 
Cavan, in wretched stormy weather, and in great disorder, ran to¬ 
wards Enniskillen and the villages in its neighbourhood, to the great 
surprise of the inhabitants of that part of the country. Three troops 
of horse, and as many companies of foot, led the way, and then the 
whole Protestant population, men, women, and children followed, 
covered to their middle with clay or mud, crying bitterly, and-witli 
little or no provisions to support them. The Governor of Enniskil¬ 
len ordered them free quarters for man and horse; a considerable 
proportion of them were tolerably well armed, and the gallant En¬ 
niskillen men were glad of their assistance. On enquiry, it was 
found that the treachery of Lundy, the false Governor of London¬ 
derry, had persuaded these people fo abandon several strong holds, 
of which they had possession, and the immediate cause of their pre¬ 
cipitate flight was the approach of Lord Galmoy, with the army 
which Tyrcoanel had sent under his command towards the passes 


SI 


between the provinces of Connaught and Ulster. On the arrival of 
that army in the county of Cavan, they surprised the house of Mr. 
Dixy, Dean of Kilmore, and took the Dean’s son prisoner, along- 
with Cornet Edward Charieton, and about eight or ten of the troop¬ 
ers, of whom young Dixy was captain. On hearing this news, all 
the garrisons in the neighbourhood broke up, some setting lire to their 
houses, and the wit ole of the Protestants fled towards Enniskillen. 
Lord Galmoy then advanced to Belturbet, and on the day after his 
arrival at that place sent a party to besiege Crom castle, then gar¬ 
risoned by a considerable number of Protestants under the command 
of Colonel Creighton, ancestor of the present Earl of Erne. 

It was situated on the Lake, about sixteen miles from Enniskillen, 
and had been the frontier garrison of that town on the Dublin side. 
The walls of the castle were strong, but it had no outwork, fortifi¬ 
cation, nor fosse, and it was commanded by hills within musquet 
shot of it. Galmpv, eitheir in derison, or to frighten the inexpe¬ 
rienced garrison by a false appearance, sent two pieces of cannon 
made of tin, near a yard long in the chase, and about eight inches 
wide, strongly bound about by a small cord, and covered with a sort 
of buckram, in colour resembling that of a piece of cannon. These 
he drew with eight horses each, making a great noise as if they were 
drawn with much difficulty. As soon as they came before Crom, he 
threatened to batter the castle with them, but he was fool enough to 
attempt a discharge from one of them, which bursted it and wound¬ 
ed the gunner, upon which the garrison made a sally, seized the 
other, and carried it away upon a man’s shoulder. A hot fire then 
commenced from the castle, which killed several of the besiegers, 
hut did not dislodge them from their position. On the twenty-se¬ 
cond of March, Lord Galmoy summoned the garrison of Enniskillen 
to surrender, and received for answer that King William and Queen 
Mary had been proclaimed there on the eleventh of that month, and 
that they would not only stand upon their own defence, but send 
what means they could to relieve Crom castle. 

On the arrival of the Northern army at Coleraine, they sent im¬ 
mediate notice of the circumstance to Colonel Lundy at Derry, and 
in a day or two afterwards several of their officers went to advise 
with the false Governor what measures were most advisable to he 
taken. They met Lundy on their way, within a few miles of Nn- 
Limavadv, and he turned back with them to Coleraine. He there 
declared that he had no ammunition to spare for the defence of that 
place, and advised the garrison to quit it as soon as it should be at¬ 
tacked. He added, that though the powder was scarce with him, he 
had provisions sufficient for a year’s consumption, and signified his 
intention to bring all the stacks of corn and hay in the surrounding 
country into JJerny, but this he never attempted to t]o. 


Immediately after the conference, Lundy walked towards till 
bridge, but the mob there already suspecting his fidelity, imagined 
lie was about to desert, and drew pp the bridge, while the guard 
presented their musquets and pikes gt him. On the twentieth of 
this month a ravelin was ordered Jby the commander to be built be¬ 
fore Bishops’-gate, at Londonderry, and the money was advanced 
for that purpose ; several sums were also raised there for the use of 
the defenders of Coleraine, and resolutions were entered into that 
the garrisons of both places would stand together and succour each 
other. 

On the twenty-first Captain James Hamilton arrived in London¬ 
derry from England, with four hundred and eighty barrels of gun¬ 
powder, and arms for two thousand men, with a commission from 
the King for Colonel Lundy, and a considerable sum of money for 
the garrison. The King and Queen were this day proclaimed ia 
Londonderry with great solemnity, the Bishop having returned from 
Kaphoe, and being present on the joyful occasion. Captain Hamil¬ 
ton, who was charged with this acceptable errand, was the nephew 
of Brigadier-General Richard Hamilton, then advancing with King 
James’s army to besiege Londonderry. He was the son of Co¬ 
lonel James Hamilton, by Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Thomas Cul¬ 
pepper, of Hollingbourne, in Kent. The estates of Donelong and 
Mongevelin, in the vicinity of Derry, belonged to this branch of 
the Hamilton family ; and this gallant officer, who declining the titla 
of Baronet, which had descended to him from his grand-father, was 
usually called Captain Hamilton, succeeded in the year 1700 to thq 
title of Earl of Abercorn, and w T as the ancestor of the present noble 
Marquis. Among the resolute Protestants who, at this period, 
flocked from all parts of Ulster into Londonderry, w’erp, John Coch¬ 
ran, of Bally rath, and Robert Tyler, of Tyross, with John and 
William C loss, Henry Cust, James Stiles, and Francis Stiles. 

We are told by Mr. Stewart, in his history of Armagh, that 
Cochran survived the w ar and returned to his farm, where he was 
some time afterwards found dead in one of his fields, wuth his 
aword half drawn ftom the scabbard. 

Captain Hamilton’s instructions were, to summon the Mayor of 
Londonderry, and all the officers, civil and military, to come on 
board his ship, and in their presence to administer to Colonel Lundy 
the oath of fidelity to King W'jlljam and Queen Mary. Walker is si¬ 
lent as to this circumstance, and Mackenzie alleges that the oatli was 
administered either very privately or not at all. When required 
next day by the committee and officers of the city to take this oath’, 
Lundy refused to do so, pleading that he had taken it on the pre¬ 
ceding day in Captain Hamilton’s ship. Mr. Charles Hamilton, Mr. 


* 53 

>r illiam Stewart, and some others, refused to swear the oath, but 
tiie Mayor, Sheriffs, Aldermen, and aH the officers were sworn. 
The precise sum of money brought by Captain Hamilton on this 
occasion was not known ; Mackinzie insinuates that it was not 
applied to the purposes for which it was intended, but as no com** 
plaint on this head is recorded by any other writer, little credit is 
due to this aspersion of the character of Captain Hamilton, who, in 
recompense of his distinguished services on this occasion, was 
called to* the Privy Council by King William, and created Baron 
©i Mountcastle and Viscount Strabane. 

On Saturday the twenty-third of March, many of the Protestants 
©f the county ol C avan left Enniskillen and proceeded on their w T ay 
to Londonderry, in obedience to the orders of Colonel Lundy. In 
the afternoon of the same day the Enniskillen forces, horse and foot, 
were reviewed by the Governor on the common hill near the town, 
where they remained all day under arms, expecting the approach of 
Lord Galmoy and his army. Towards evening, how ever, scouts ar¬ 
rived with intelligence that Galmoy had advanced no farther on his 
inarch than to Lissnaskea, a village ten miles from Enniskillen, from 
which, on hearing of the intentions of the men of the latter place, 
to meet him on his march towards them, he fell hack with his men 
to the siege of Crorii castle. On the night of that day Governor 
Hamilton sent about two hundred of the best armed men in Ennis¬ 
killen towards Crom, partly by land and partly by water, in the hope 
to throw, if possible, a reinforcement into the besieged fortress. 
This they accomplished next day, after some feeble opposition from 
the enemy, who, being hut wTetched marksmen, did no other 
execution on them than Idling one old boatman, wffiile the defect of 
artillery in the castle w r as supplied by long fowling-pieces with double 
rests, such as had been long in use round Lough Erne for the pur¬ 
pose of killing wild-fowl. Lord Galmoy w r as reconnoitering the cas¬ 
tle from a hill nearly a mile distant from the scene of action, at this 
time, and as he stood with a glass of wine in his hand, toasting 
confusion to the rebels of Crom, an expert fowler from the battle¬ 
ments levelled his gun and fired at him with such precision, as to 
break the glass in his Lordship’s hand, and kill the man who stood 
near him. In the mean time, two hundred of the Enniskillenncrs 
forced their w r ay into the castle, from which the garrison instantly 
sallied out with them, and drove the besiegers from their trenches, 
killing thirty or forty of them, and plundering it of two suits of 
armour, the musquets of the dead, and several other articles ®f 
value. Galmoy retired to Belturbet, where lie vented the fury 
of his soul in such a way at his disappointment, as to sink his 
character to the level of the lowest of his species that ever dis¬ 
graced human nattire, and warranted Qldmixaa in his memoirs of 


$4 


Ireland, to brand him to posterity as an infamous wretch whom iro 
titles could honor. 

There was at this time a prisoner in Crom castle, one Bryan Mae 
Conagher, Mac Guire, who had been a Captain in King James s 
army. Lord Galmoy wished for his release, and On the day after 
the raising of the siege sent an express to Captain Creighton, pro¬ 
posing to exchange Captain DiSv for him, pledging his honour that 
if Maguire were sent to him, he would return Dixy for him without 
delay. An express was instantly dispatched to Enniskillen for per¬ 
mission to make the exchange, which was obtained, and Mac Guiro 
was sent to Lord Galmoy, with a letter from Colonel Creighton, de- 
riring that Captain Dixy might be returned to him according to en¬ 
gagement. Instead of fulfilling his promise, Galmoy called a couiij 
cil of war, and put Captain Dixy and his Lieutenant, Charleton, 
on trial for liigh treason, and they were condemned to death, pro¬ 
mises of life and preferment being made to them if they would re¬ 
nounce the Protestant religion and join King* James’s army. They 
were both young men, but they firmly rejected the base offer, and 
wisely preferred death to dishonourable life. Mac Guire, who had 
been given in exchange for Dixy, warmly interposed in behalf of ther 
prisoners, and was so disgusted at being unable to save their lives, 
though at the expense of his own liberty, which he generously offer¬ 
ed to resign for them, that he resigned his commission, returned to 
Crom, and would serve King James no longer. Galmoy, in the 
mean time, deaf to every remonstrance, made to him, caused the un¬ 
fortunate young gentlemen to he hanged on Mr. Russell’s sign-post, 
in Belturbet, and when they were dead, commanded their bodies to 
be taken into the kitchen of the inn, had both their heads cut off and 
thrown out to the soldiers, who kicked them through the street as 
foot-balls. When the ruffians had sufficiently gratified themselves 
and their brutal commander by this barbarous sport, the heads were 
set up on the market-house of Belturbet. Galmoy marched in a 
few days afterwards with his army towards Deny, and passing thro 5 
Tyrone, perpetrated another act of cruelty, of more than usual 
enormity. It is thus recorded in Burton’s rare and curious history of. 
the Kingdom of Ireland—“At Omagh he took two men, on the 
pretence of their having taken up arms for their own defence ; thev 
Were father and son. He first caused the son to hang his father and. 
carry his head on a pole through the street, crying, 4 this is the head 
of a traitor,’ and then the young man himself was hanged.” 

On the twenty-third Colonel Phillips was sent to England with art 
address to the King, and to solicit a supply of ammunition and other' 
Accessaries. 

On tho twenty-fourth Colonel Custavus Hamilton called a council 


35 


•f war at Coleraine, and represented to tlie officers, that a want of 
ammunition had rendered it necessary for them to retire into Derry, 
which they were about, to do, when some squadrons of the enemy's 
horse appearing before the town, they repaired with their whole force 
to the ramparts, from which a few shots repulsed the enemy. Lundy 
had been in Coleraine the preceding day, whither he had gone to 
give his advice and assistance, the tendency of which soon proved to 
be the facilitating of a general surrender to King James’s army. On 
the twenty-fifth, while the men of Derry were in active preparation 
to resist the impending storm, a fire broke out at an early hour in 
the morning in an out-house near the magazine, which causing a 
suspicion of treachery, the whole garrison got under arms, manned 
the ramparts, and remained there several hours in expectation of 
the enemy. On the same day intelligence arriving at Enniskil¬ 
len of the arrival of Captain Hamilton in Derry with a great 
store of ammunition and arms, the Governor sent Nicholas West- 
Icy, Esq. and the Rev. Andrew Hamilton, Rector of Kilskerry, 
with a guard of twenty-four men to that city, with letters to 
Hamilton and Lundy, for a supply of arms and ammunition. 
Captain Hamilton was desirous to comply with the request, but 
Lundy shewed the cloven foot in the coldness with which In* 
received the messengers, and in refusing to give a single mus- 
quet complete. He however consented, with reluctance, that they 
should get sixty musquet barrels, without stock or lock, which 
had lain useless for a long time in the stores, and of five hun¬ 
dred barrels of gun-powder, then in the magazine, he gave them 
but five. These were safely conveyed to Enniskillen, to which no 
further supply of arms or ammunition was sent during the arduous 
contest that ensued, hut the brave defenders of that town supplied 
themselves by disarming their enemies, until Major-General Kirk 
#ent them a relief. 

Early in the month of March, the Rev. George Walker, Rec¬ 
tor of the Parishes of Donouglunore and Erigal Keeroge, in the 
county of Tyrone, who had raised a regiment in and about Dun¬ 
gannon, for the protection of that part of the country, rode into 
Derry, and settled a correspondence with Colonel Lundy, whom 
few or none suspected of treachery at that time, and whose charac¬ 
ter for experience in warfare and zeal for the Protestant religion, 
stood very high. On the return of Mr. Hamilton of Kilskerry 
from Londonderry to Enniskillen, he met Mr. Walker at Lifford, 
where a token passed between them, which proved afterwards of 
great use during the siege. 

During the first five or six weeks of the siege, Mr. Hamilton sav?, 
the Irish army did not much scruple to let both men and women pas* 
Derry and Enniskillen, by which means a constant commu- 

F 


* 


33 

sueation was Tcept tip between these places, hut afterward.*?, ns might 
be expected, they would suffer none to enter into the blockaded ci¬ 
ty, by which means all intercourse with other places was completely 

cut off. 

About eight -o’clock in the momma: of the twenty-seventh of 
^lareh, General Hamilton appeared with his whole army before tb« 
ramparts of Londonderry. He advanced within fifty yards of tha 
works under the shelter of some hedges and ditches, on the blind 
gate side and near the church. The mill sheltered them within forty 
yards of the bastion. They raised two batteries, one of which play¬ 
ed on the draw-bridge and the blind gate, a shot from which broke 
the chain of the bridge, which Captain Archibald M‘Culloch, with 
great hazard of his life, fastened again, while the enemy were firing 
very rapidly at him. The other battery did but little damage, kill¬ 
ing only one man, knocking down some chimnies, and making a 
few breaches in the church roof. Captain Hugh JVPGill killed their 
gunner with a musket shot. From the beginning of this month to 
the end of September, the weather proved extremely wet, both in 
England and Ireland, the rivers were frequently overflowing their 
banks, and fevers and dysentery very generally prevailed. At four 
o’clock in the afterneon of this day a considerable quantity of snow - 
fell suddenly about Londonderry, and in about an hour afterward* 
General Hamilton and his troops retired in great confusion from the 
formidable position which they had taken. The heaps of timber and 
•earth which had been used in blocking up the gates on their ap¬ 
proach, could not be removed with sufficient speed to enable the be¬ 
sieged to make a prompt pursuit, but many of them leaped from the 
walls, and siezed several of the retreating enemy, with some fire 
arms, commissions, clothes and tents. Among the prisoners taken 
on this occasion, there was one Courtney, who had deserted to. 
the enemy in the course of that day. The loss on the side of the 
defenders of the town was three men killed, a small number to 
lose considering the continued fire to which they had been for 
some hours exposed; that of the Irish was uncertain, because 
they carried 1 off their dead ; and not deeming it prudent to spare 
time to bury them, they put them into a house, according to the 
report of the country people, and burned them to ashes. Thus end¬ 
ed the first day’s enterprise against the maiden City, and in it was 
an epitome of the whole siege. On the succeeding day the foraging 
jpflrties advanced from the city within two miles of the enemy’s camp, 
.and brought in some cattle and other necessaries. On the twentv- 
jftinth Sir Arthur Rawdon’s regiment vras ordered to march to Mo- 
Jteymore, Colonel Skeffington’s to Bellaghy and Daw son’s bridge, and 
the passes on the Bann above Portglenone, and Colonel Canning’s 
to Maglierafelt. These arrangements were made in consequence 


”87 


fcf accounts being received of tlie advance of Colonel O’Neill to* 
Wards Coleraine with two thousand men. O’Neill, who was son to 
the ferocious Sii Phelim, had resided in Deny for some years before 
this time, and the approach of a military man so well acquainted with 
the passes through the country as he was, added much to the alarm 
caused by the report of a reinforcement coming to Hamilton’s army* 
The pass between the counties of Londonderry and Antrim, at Toome> 
was entrusted to Colonel Houston, within four or five miles of which, 
at the new Ferry, Major Michfdburn was ordered to take his station. 
Colonel Edmonston, commonly called the Laird of Duntretb, was 
ordered to secure and defend the pass of Portglenone. Sir John 
M‘Gill’s regiment was sent to Kilrea, where care had been taken to 
*ink most of the boats and cots on the l»ann. Sir Tristram Beres- 
ford’s regiment, with Colonel Francis Hamilton’s, and several de¬ 
tachments to the number of three thousand men, were left to defend 
Coleraine. The Protestants at Fagivie, under the command of Cap¬ 
tain Blair, beat hack some of the Irish who had crossed the river there. 
Oil the approach of the Protestant troops to Moneymore, in which 
there was a strong castellated house and bawn, belonging to the Clot- 
worthy family, the Irish quitted it, leaving behind them great quanti¬ 
ties of provisions, which were very acceptable to Sir Arthur Rawdon. 
He sent a supply of them to Colonel Edmonston, who had just writ¬ 
ten to him from Portglenone, tjiat his men were almost starved with 
hunger there. Late on the night of Friday, the fifth of April, Sic 
Arthur went to Portglenone, and found all well there ; Edmonston 
had entrenched his men so well, that they were out of the range of 
both great and small shot, and he had destroyed a considerable part 
of the bridge. The enemy was, however, very active, and there was 
a continual fire kept up on both sides. Twenty of tlie enemy were 
killed the next day, and that part of Portglenone, in possession of 
the Irish, on the Antrim side of the river, was set oil fire by rod hot 
iron bullets, which drove them all out ot it. 

At two o’clock in the morning of the seventh, advices came to the 
Protestant army at C< jeraine, that Lord Galmoy, Colonel Gordon 
O’Neill, and Colonel MacMahon, had advanced to Dungannon with 
three thousand men, with the intention of cutting off the garrison at 
Moneymore. 'J’he same letter desired that Sir Arthur Rawdon should 
hasten back to Moneymore, and he was a mile or two on his return 
with Major Baker, Captain Hugh M‘Giil, and Captain Dunbar, when 
he heard that the Irish, having on the preceding night passed by the 
guaids kept on the river side hv Colonel Skefiington, were then ad¬ 
vanced within a mile of Colonel Edmonston s trenches. Sir Arthur 
jeent immediate notice of their approach to Colonel Edmonston, one 
company of whose regiment, quartered in some country houses near 
the river, fired at the passing enemy till their ammunition was spent. 
When the boats came within half a mile of tbe trenches; they lauded 


the men, and plied hack and forwards across the river till they had 
ferried over a considerable party. Two or three companies of their 
grenadiers advanced first through the hog of Glenone towards Co¬ 
lonel Edmonston’s trenches, in which he had only one hundred 
and twenty men. With sixty of these he went out to line a ditch 
on the side of the hog towards the enemy, leaving Lieutenant-Colo¬ 
nel Shaw to guard the trenches, lie there vigorously opposed the 
Irish, whose numbers every moment encreasing, at last overpowered 
liim and obliged him to fa 1 ! hack. At this time Sir Arthur Rawdoil 
and Captain Dunbar came to the trenches, and were surprised by a 
volley of shot from the Irish, who immediately sent one hundred 
grenadiers to line the hedges on the way to that only pass by which 
their opponents could retreat, and to secure that point from a body 
of Protestants whom they saw advancing towards it. This party 
consisted of five companies of foot, under the command of Lieuten¬ 
ant-Colonel Whitney, coming to the assistance of Colonel Edmon- 
ston. Whitney commanded three young Captains to lead on the 
men, hut when lie saw the enemy lie retracted his orders, and com¬ 
manded the men to face about and retire ; lie was obeyed by all but 
Captain James McGill, who, ashamed of so base a retreat, went on 
towards the pass : Sir Arthur Rawdoil and Captain Dunbar came to 
the pass at the same time, and having no other way to escape, ven¬ 
tured through all the shot poured in upon them from the hedges, un- 
til they met Captain James M‘Gill, upon which they were about to 
charge the enemy again, when they perceived another party of Irish 
in the rear, and in a few minutes Captain M‘Gill was shot off his 
horse ; a Captain of the Irish grenadiers came up and run his sword 
through the body of the fallen and wounded officer, and another of 
the savages dashed out his brains with a musqnet. By the time that 
Sir Arthur Rawdon had got over the pass, Major Baker and Captain 
Hugh M‘Gill had come up to it with as many men as they could get 
together, and had stopped Colonel Whitney’s party in its shameful 
retreat. Ldmonston and Shaw also got to their assistance, by diffe¬ 
rent ways, hut the soldiers having little or no ammunition or match 
left, the number of the Irish party every moment encreasing, and 
news arriving of Lord Galmoy’s approach to Moneymore, it was re¬ 
solved that Ldmonston and \\ hitney should retreat with their regi¬ 
ments to Coleraine, that Sir Arthur Rawdon and his own regiment 
of Dragoons, with Colonel Skeffington’s and Colonel Canning’s re¬ 
giments of foot should retire towards Derry, which was accordingly 
done, Lieutenant-Colonel W illiam Canning having the command of 
Canning’s regiment, which had been raised at Garvagh. 

The loss at Portglenone, though numerically small, was conside¬ 
rable to the Protestants at this critical time, for besides a few com¬ 
mon soldiers killed or missing, with Captain Henly, who wa6 wound- 


*d and taken prisoner, and Captain James M‘Gili, who was cruelly 
put to death in a condition which would have excited the sympathy* 
of a civilized enemy, the services of two able officers, Colonel Ed- 
monston and Sir Arthur Rawdon, terminated here; the former died 
at Culmore Fort in a week afterwards, of a disease caught in the 
trenches at Portgleuone, in a season unusually cold and wet, and the 
latter, who was always of a tender constitution, was so injured in his 
health by the fatigue he suffered on this occasion, that he was obliged 
to retire from the army. He was so obnoxious to King James’s go¬ 
vernment, that in the Parliament held on the ensuing month, lie was 
particularly exempted from mercy, as “ one of the principal actors of 
the rebellion,’ as it was termed, “ and one of those who advised and 
fomented it, inveigling others to be involved therein.” Sir Arthur 
liawdoii had married Helena, daughter and heiress to Sir James 
Graham, youngest son of the Earl of Menteith, and through this lady 
the present Marquis of Hastings is thought to have a title to that 
ancient Earldom which is now dormant by the failure of male issue. 

The Irish having crossed the Bann, all the Protestant army of 
Moneymore, Magherafelt, Dawson’s-bridge, Belaghy, Toome, ami 
Newferry, retreated over Carntogher mountains into Deny. Cole¬ 
raine, too, was abandoned, and all the population of the country, not 
belonging to the Church of Rome, followed their armed protectors, 
with the exception of those who, from age or infirmity, were unable 
to travel, and a few Captains who took protections from the enemy. 

On the ninth of this month, this body of distressed people arrived 
at the Waterside, and the ferry which led over to the city; the army 
without a General, and the terrified crowds that followed in the rear, 
presenting as melancholy a spectacle as could be presented to the 
human eye. Driven by the sword of a merciless enemy from house 
and home, destitute of all provisions or clothing except what their 
precipitate flight allowed them to cany about their persons : with a 
pursuing foe in their rear, and a deep and rapid river in their front, 
their last hope was an admission, by the slow means of a ferry boat, 
into a garrison already crowded with afflicted families, and scantily* 
provided with the means of subsistence. The dragoons alone had 
brought with them a store of meal and other provisions, and those, 
with the rest of the horse, were ordered by Lundy to Strabane, Lif¬ 
ford, and Letterkenny. The rest were ferried over, ami received 
with cordiality by all but the treacherous Governor and a few of his 
secret adherents. On the next day, Cairnes of Knockmany returned 
from London witli instructions and a letter from King William to 
Colonel Lundy. As he came near the City, he met some officers 
and a great many people going away from it. Lundy had offered 
passes to these officers, and by his discouraging representations pre¬ 
vailed on them to quit the place, which they did under strong suspi- 


40 


don of that treachery which, although it detracted from the credit of 
his- asseverations, furnished an argument sufficiently strong to prevent 
them from expecting safety under such a commander. Cairnes de¬ 
livered the King’s letter to the Governor and Council, acquainting 
them with the cause of his coming, and the forces which were on their 
passage from England for their relief. Ke earnestly* dissuaded then* 
from deserting this place, now the last hold of the Protestants of Ire¬ 
land, with the exception of Enniskillen, which was not likely to stand 
against the forces now advancing towards it; and he desired, accord¬ 
ing to his instructions, a particular account of the present condition of 
the City*, as to men, arms, ammunition, and provisions. In conse¬ 
quence of this communication from the King and their friends in 
England, the Council resolved to stand by each other, and not to 
leave the kingdom, or desert the public service, till their affairs should 
be settled in a secure posture. A copy of this resolution was affixed 
on the market-house, and read next morning at the head of every 
battalion in the garrison. The signatures affixed to it were those of 
Lord Blancy, Sir Arthur liawdon, Pauiet Philips, Hugh M‘Gill, 
llichard Crofton, John Hill, George Hamilton, Arthur Upton, James 
Hamilton, Nicholas Atchison, H. Montgomery, Thomas Whitney, 
William Ponsonby, Richard Johnston, Robert Lundy, Richard Wha¬ 
ley, Daniel M‘Neil, W illiam Shaw, J. Forward, Gervais Squire, J„ 
Blaney, and John Tubman. The soldiers expressed their joy at this 
(declaration by loud shouts and huzzas; many were encouraged by it 
to remain in the City, although they bad resolved to go away ; but 
Cairnes’s letters to several persons of note, w ho had fled in a panic to 
Castledoe, for the purpose of embarking there for Scotland, were 
fruitless, and while the soldiers and townsmen were murmuring at 
Lundy’s evident neglect of all means of defence, the enemy appeared 
on the opposite side of the Foyle, preparing to cross the river in their 
boats. In the mean time, the Rev. George Walker receiving intelli¬ 
gence that the Irish army was advancing to Deny, had rode thither, 
and communicated his information to Lundy, who treated it as a false 
alarm ; upon which he returned to Lifford, where he joined Colonel 
Crofton and his regiment on the thirteenth of April, and fought the 
enemy across the river during the whole of the night. The Fin and 
the Mourns, themselves composed of many rivers, flowing from the 
surrounding mountains of Tyrone and Donegal, unite at this town, 
and form the broad and rapid Foyle, swollen at this time to its brim, 
and rendering the passage of it by an army almost impossible. An 
account of the transactions at this time, to be found in a poem disco¬ 
vered at Armagh some years ago, states, that the Irish after losing 
many men in the water, and staining its waves with gore, forced their 
way over the river at Lifford, and pursued the retreating Protestants 
with great slaughter, but the state of the floods at this place rendering 
it impossible for dragoons to pass over at Claudy, three miles higher 


41 


up, without swimming*, no credit can be given to this story, and it 
inaybe the more safely classed under the head of poetical fiction., 
because Mackinzie tells us, that ou the next night, Colonel Hamid, 
the gallant proprietor of Liffpnl, with his regiment, which he had 
raised there and in the neighbouring town of Strabane, repulsed the 
enemy, with the aid of Crofton and his men, whom Walker had left 
there on the morning of that day, when, in obedience to Lundy’s 
command, be went to take bis post at the Long Causeway, Walker 
adds, that Colonel Crofton maintained this post against the enemy on 
the second night’s defence of it, with great resolution. A proclama¬ 
tion had been issued from the council at Derry on the thirteenth, re¬ 
quiring that all who would fight for their country and religion, against 
popery, should appear on the fittest ground for battle near Cl ad y ford, 
Lifford, and the Long Causeway, to engage the enemy on the en¬ 
suing Monday, and to bring with them at least a week’s provision# 
for men, and as much as they could for horses. The signatures to 
this order, which had not been affixed to the preceding one, were 
those of Walter Dawson, William Stewart, John Barry, C. Frowde, 
Francis Hamilton, and Kilner Brazier. At this council, Lundy was 
chosen Commander-in-chief, a trust which, for reasons best known 
to himself, he readily accepted. On the same day, Major Stroud 
made some proposals to him, of which no notice was taken, and most 
of the suburbs on both sides of the river were burned or pulled down. 

On the fourteenth, the enemy’s army marched from the water side, 
where they had on the preceding day made a show of crossing the 
river, and proceeded towards Strabane. The vigilant Cairnes, on 
perceiving their movements, went twice to the new Commander-in- 
chief, urging him to take some prompt measures for securing the 
passes of the Finn and the Foyle at Clady and Lifford ; but a care¬ 
less replv, that orders to this effect had been already given, served tor 
diminish the general astonishment at the sad occurrences of the ensu¬ 
ing day. Several other persons sent word to Lundy, that if he did 
not march the men from the City that day to defend the passes, they* 
could not arrive in time to do so next morning, and entreated him to 
be with them at both these places on that night. Lundy having al¬ 
ready decoyed Lord Kingston, and a thousand horse and foot, which 
he had collected in the provinces of Munster and Connaught for tho 
defence of Sligo, and ordered to stay and keep the passes between 
Lough Erne and Ballyshannon, sent an express to that nobleman, which 
he received at ten o'clock, this night, requiring him and his troops to 
join the Protestants in the Lagan, and he at Clady, Lifford, and the 
Long Causeway, before ten o’clock next morning. The nearest of bin 
forces were at that time thirty miles from any of the places to which 
they were ordered, so that the design of so short a notice was accom- 
... plished by the impossibility of obeying it. Hia Lordship, however^ 


42 


marched at an early hour in the morning towards Derry, and when h<* 
had brought his men within five miles of Raphoe, lie met several of 
the Protestants running from Claudy, who informed him that Lundy, 
with the British forces, had fied to Derry, the Irish having advanced 
in pursuit of them as far as Raphoe, after having forced their passage 
across the Finn water. In a popular historical play, called Ireland 
preserved , or the Siege of Londonderry , the feelings of the Pro¬ 
testant officers at this time are thus delineated:—The scene having 
been changed from Derry to Castlefin, Colonel Mitchelburn thus ad¬ 
dresses a brother officer: “ what do you think, Colonel Murray, i* 
this fair dealing or not ? On Tuesday last I parted Governor Lundy* 
who promised that I should be relieved or reinforced with strong de¬ 
tachments of men, arms, and ammunition; does he think I can de¬ 
fend all these passes against the enemy, with little more than one 
regiment? ’Tis now the afternoon of Sunday, and we see no ap¬ 
pearance of troops, although the great body of the enemy's troopa 
marched from the water-side of Derry yesterday. I expect their at¬ 
tack to-night.” The Town Major of the city replies : “’Tis admirable 
that he does not take care; a good commander would not send hi* 
men farther than he would venture to go himself. See how regular 
General Hamilton advances, although he has not one half the number 
of men which we have, while our Governor lies sotting and drinking 
in Derry, waiting for the enemy to come and pull him out of it by the 
cars. He sends us upwards of twelve miles from the City, as tho 
Governor of Coleraine packed us off to be surrounded and cut off hr 
the enemy’s horse and dragoons. Twice have we escaped with our 
lives, by a good retreat; I hope we may be able to do so a third 
time.” Mitchelburn answers—“ He is safe, my friend, though we are 
not. General Hamilton and he combine against us; we have ene¬ 
mies before and behind us; we are betrayed, sold, our lives allotted 
and designed by them to be a sacrifice to the enemy’s fury.” Colonel 
Murray says: “ Tis a most deplorable case ; think how we ar© 
served. Lord Kingston is within twenty miles of us, with three thou¬ 
sand foot and a thousand horsemen, to join us ; yet by private designs, 
and villainy, this treacherous Governor and his friends are not content¬ 
ed to get this kingdom to themselves, but attempt to destroy us root 
anil branch. Thus are we scattered through the country, on purpose 
that the enemy shall have little or no opposition.” 

At six o’clock on Sunday evening, Mitchelburn had dispatched an 
express to the Governor at Derry, imploring assistance. He stated 
that the enemy’s troops were advancing upon him, and that their only 
preservation for that night was the flush of water in the river, occa¬ 
sioned by the heavy rains. Lundy replied, that he would march next 
morning with two thousand men and five pieces of cannon. On th*. 
morning of Monday, the fifteenth, Colonel Cimingham and Richards 
arrived in Lough Foyie ? with two regiments of foot, and othsr necea- 


43 


Winds, for the support of Derry. They sent their first message tcs. 
Lundy from Greencastle, desiring his orders about landing, and re¬ 
ceived no answer to it. The second message thev sent from Red- 
castle, about two o’clock in the afternoon, and hearing in reply that 
the Governor had gone with his forces to fight the enemy at Clady, 
Colonel Cunningham wrote to him from on board “ the Swallow” 
letting him know that two well disciplined regiments had arrived there 
with him, and might join his army in two days at the farthest, being 
likely to be of great use on any occasion, but particularly»for the en¬ 
couragement of new-raised and untrained men. lie added his ad- 
vice, to slop the passes on the Fin till he could arrive there, and 
enable him to join battle with the greater probability of success; 
Having received no answer to either of these communications, ha 
dispatched another with a messenger from Culmore castle, at nina 
.o'clock that night. 

Iu the mean time, the Protestants at Clady, who, a week be¬ 
fore, had broken down the bridge there, had thrown up a breast¬ 
work at the end of it. Some of the Irish foot had arrived on the* 
.opposite bank of the river at an early hour, but it was noon before 
the great body of their horse got there from Strabane. It was 
eight o'clock before Lundy marched out of Derry with the troops 
Intended to guard this pass, and with the reinforcements which 
joined them on their march, they amounted to ten thousand men, a 
force more than sufficient to repel the enemy which was said to have 
been little more than half that number. The first division of 
the enemy which attempted to ford the river at Castlefin, was re¬ 
pulsed by a party of Colonel Skiffington’s regiment posted there. 
Another small party, consisting of but thirty dragoons of Colonel 
Stewart’s men, aftermost of the few foot who had been posted them 
were beaten off, opposed the enemy’s passing over the ford un¬ 
til all their ammunition was spent, and there was no more sent 
them. Lundy had so managed matters, that the necessary supply of 
ammunition was but three or four miles out of the city when his 
routed forces met the convoy on their retreat. Major Stroud, who 
bad some cavalry at Clady-ford, was so disadvantageous!y placed, 
that he could not bring them on, tho’ he earnestly endeavoured to dv> 
to, so that those who had defended the breast-work at the broken 
bridge were obliged to retire from it. At this moment several troops 
•of the enemy’s horse rushed into the river and swam across it. Two 
of their officers, Major Nangle, and another whose name is not 
Mentioned, were drowned. The state of the flood at this time near 
Clady proves the impossibility of any portion of the Irish having 
passed the Foyle at Lifford on the preceding night. Colonel Gordon 
O'Neill assured Mr. Mackinzie, author of the narrative of the Siege 
#f Deny, that when they Lad got over the river this day at ths> for- 


s 


U 


44 


mcr of those places, the Irish were in great terror of an attack front 
their opponents, for so high were the waters, that they had scarcely a 
dry shot left to them. Lundy, however, was their best friend on 
this occasion, for so far from putting the Protestants into any pos-< 
ture of defence, by which they might have cut off the enemy as 
they arrived on their side of the river, he gave orders for a precipitate? 
flight to Deny, himself leading the way in such a manner as to afford 
reason to suppose he laboured to excite a general feeling of terror and 
consternation. He sent no orders to any other divisions of the army* 
but at none of the passes did they amount to any considerable number. 
On the news arriving in Lifford that the Irish horse had got over the 
Finn water at Clady, the foot, who had been posted there, and 
were then firing across the river at some of the enemy on the Tyrone 
side of it, were called off, and retired to the pass at Long causeway, 
a short distance north of Lifford, on the direct road to Derry. Co¬ 
lonel Francis Hamilton collected those who arrived there, and drew 
them up in good order behind the pass, expecting the Irish would 
take that road towards the city. But they pursued the Protestants 
who took their way thro’ Raphoe, where they did great execution 
upon Colonel Montgomerys regiment of foot, no care having been 
taken to secure their retreat. Many more would have fallen there by 
the sword of their merciless enemy, had they not precipitated them¬ 
selves into the bogs and marshes of the adjoining parish of Clonleigh. 
The Protestants at the Long causeway staid on the post they had 
taken there till the evening, when fearing that the enemy would get 
between them and Derry, they retired thither. On Lundy’s arrival 
there lie ordered the gates to be shut, so that many officers, soldiers, 
and private gentlemen were forced to remain outside the walls that 
night, exposed to the danger of being cut to pieces by the enemy's 
cavalry, from whose rapid and merciless pursuit they had so lately 
escaped. Among those shut out from the city on this perilous night 
■were, George Walker, with his regiment, and it was not without 
difficulty, and some violence on the sentinels, that they got admission 
on the next morning. The reason assigned by Lundy for this suspi¬ 
cious measure was his anxiety to preserve the provisions of the city, 
?)y keeping all out of it above the number requisite for its defence. 
He said he had provisions for three thousand men for three months, 
find that he did not consider it prudent to diminish the period he could 
bold out, by adding to the number of those who should be fed there. 
His letter to Major Tiffin, on the night of the same day, contradict ¬ 
ed this assertion, for it stated that without an immediate supply of 
provisions, the place would of necessity fall into the enemy’s hands, 
lie had before written to Cunningham, informing him of the disaster 
at Clady, and consenting to the landing of the English troops, hut 
m a postscript to his letter to Major Tiffin, he alledged that lie had 
not above two days’ provisions in the city for three thousand men* 


tW all unnecessary moutlis had been sent out of it, and lie ordered 
Cunningham and Richards to leave their men on board the ships, and 
come with some of their officers into the city, that they might re¬ 
solve what was to he done. 

Accordingly on the next day Colonel Cunningham and Colonel 
Richards, with some of their officers, came to Derry, where Lundy 
called a council of war. Along with himself and other officers, it 
consisted of Lord Blaney, Captain James Hamilton and ten others, 
namely, Hussey, Tiffin, Coote, Comwal, Echlin, Traunter, Lyn¬ 
don, Pearsox , Paclie and Taylor. None of the inhabitants of 
the city were called to this council hut Mogridge the Town Clerk, 
and when Colonels Chichester, Crofton, Ponsonby, and Francis 
Hamilton, who had some suspicion of Lundy’s design, desired to 
he admitted, they were refused admittance at the door, altho’ 
Lundy had, in the same council, alleged that he had sent for Hamil¬ 
ton and Chichester, and for Sir Arthur Rawdon, who he said was 
dying. 

On receiving the King’s letter and orders from Colonel Cunning¬ 
ham, the Governor repeated the representation he had before made 
by letter, of the defenceless state of tbe city, advised all present to 
quit it, and declared bis intention to do so himself. The English 
officers, it is but just to say, agreed with him in opinion, being unac¬ 
quainted with the falsehood of the representation he had made to 
them, particularly that in which he had stated that James s army, 
consisting of twenty-five thousand men, were at that moment ap¬ 
proaching near to the gates. Colonel Richards was the only English¬ 
man who objected to the measure proposed, and he argued unan¬ 
swerably, that the surrender of Londonderry at that crisis, would bo 
the loss of the whole kingdom. A resolution was, however, made, 
that it was not convenient to the King’s service to land the two Eng¬ 
lish regiments then on board the ships in the harbour, and that the 
principal officers should privately withdraw themselves, as well for 
their own preservation as in hopes that the inhabitants, by a timely 
capitulation, might make better terms with the enemy, who, at all 
events, would soon possess themselves of the place. It seems mere? 
dib!e that Lundy could thus delude some of the officers who assisted 
in the council, particularly Lord Blaney, whose services had been 
already so eminent, but there is no calculating to what extent one 
accomplished villain may practice on the credulity of unsuspecting 
men, and if ever there was an adept in the science of treachery, this 
Governor of Londonderry seems to have been one. After the coun¬ 
cil broke up, the English officers returned to their ships, which had 
fallen down the river that day towards Redcastle; and Lundy, in 
prosecution of his nefarious plans, made a public declaration that the 
council had resolved on the immediate landing of the English regb 


46 


ments ; and lie ordered the Sheriffs to provide quarters for them hi 
the city. This he did to delude the officers and soldiers who had ear* 
irestly entreated that ♦heir troops should he landed and join with them 
in the preservation of that corner, as it were, of the province into 
which so great a proportion of the inhabitants, provisions, and wealth 
of three or four counties had been brought together, exhibiting as 
powerful a temptation to a necessitous enemy, as affording the strong¬ 
est inducement and most encouraging means to defend so many lives 
and so much substance. One of the officers of the council, howe¬ 
ver, informed Colonel Francis Hamilton and Captain Hugh M'Gill 
i of the resolution which the council had really made, and advised 
them to quit the city. M‘Gill discovered it to Sir Arthur llawdon 
and others, who thinking, as they well might, that they had been be¬ 
trayed, deemed it madness to remain as a sacrifice to the fury of a 
triumphant enemy, and therefore many of them got off to the ships 
on the day following. 

Sir Arthur Rawdon, however, did not leave the city without pro¬ 
testing against the proceedings of Lundy’s council, and Walker says 
he would not have gone away but that lie was dangerously sick, and 
was forced to do so by his friends and physicians. He survived for 
some years, but it is certain that his constitution, which had beeij 
delicate from infancy, never recovered the injury it sustained at the 
trenches in Pprtglenone. The common soldiers and the lower order 
of the citizens were fired with the utmost indignation at the resolu¬ 
tion of the Governor and council; they vented their fury upon som# 
of the officers whom they saw leaving the city, and shot one of them, 
a Captain Bell, who, with some others, had got into a boat which 
tvas pushing off from one of the quays. The officers who had re¬ 
solved to remain, and who possessed the confidence of the multitude, 
endeavoured, with some success, to restrain their violence, and to 
support their spirits tinder the discouragements which had nearly 
driven them to despair. 

At this time the chief part of the infantry which had retreated 
from Clady and the other passes on the Finn water, came to the 
gates in tolerable order; hut Lundy took care that they should be 
shut against them. Had the pursuit been very close the consequences 
might have been fatal, hut Hamilton had got too warm a reception 
here cn the 27th of March, to he rash in approaching the walls 
again. On the sentinels refusing him admittance, one of the Captains 
of Skiffington’s regiment discharged a pistol at him, and called for 
fire to burn the gate ; upon which it and all the other gates were 
thrown open to the retreating army, when all who had not got into 
the city with Walker on the preceding night, then found their way 
into it. 

prom a scarcity of forage in the city, and the difficulty of finding 


47 


^accommodation for so many horses in it, the cavalry were sent to¬ 
wards Culmore. Some of the officers and soldiers, influenced by 
Lundy's representations, or despairing of safety by any other means, 
took refuge in the ships anchored there, and at this time overflowing 
with passengers ; others, resolved to stand upon their defence and 
sell their lives as dear as possible, collected round the gallant Colonel 
Murray, and put themselves under his command. 

In the mean time Lord Kingston and his army, which would have 
placed the enemy between two fires, and in a most perilous situation, 
had the two English regiments been marched round by Strahane 
and joined to bis force at Castlefin, were sent back to Donegal, when 
within five miles of Raphoe, a few Lours after the Irish army had 
passed the ford at Clady. An account, was sent to this gallant No¬ 
bleman by the treacherous Lundy, that there was neither room for his 
men or forage for his horses in Londonderry. In consequence of 
this, lie fell hack to the quarters from which he had advanced, by a 
forced march, on the preceding night, and ordering his cavalry to se¬ 
cure themselves in Enniskillen, and his infantry in Donegal, Bally- 
shannon, and other places, he forced himself with a few of his offi¬ 
cers into a French vessel at ICillybegs, pushed out to sea, and hasten¬ 
ed to give King William an account of the distressed state of tliQ 
Protestants of Ireland. 

James remained in Dublin from the 24th of March to the 8th of 
April, and during the short time he stayed there, seemed to be much 
more anxious to force Popery upon the Protestants, than to prepare 
for the contest which awaited him in Ulster. 

The Romish Priests and Friars in the metropolis at this time 
amounted to three or four hundred in number, sleek, lusty, well-fed 
fellows, whose effrontery, as mendicants, for means to build chapels, 
was not to he paralleled. In a short time fourteen mass-houses and 
convents, and two nunneries, were erected in the metropolis, a chief 
part of the cost of which came out of the pockets of Protestants, 
who dared not to refuse subscriptions. 

On one of the three Sundays during James’s stay in Dublin, a. 
Dr. Larbcnne, preached a controversial sermon before him in the 
Cathedral of Christ Church, and on another, an Ecclesiastic named 
Hall, preached a discourse on the same subject, corrupting bis text by 
renderingthe passage “ do penance” instead of “repent.” Altlio’ Popery 
appeared now to be nearly triumphant, the Protestant religion did not 
want an advocate and a powerful one in Doctor Nathaniel Foy, then. 
Minister of St. Bridget's, in Dublin, and afterwards Bishop of Wa¬ 
terford and Lismore- A few of Lis friends who wrote short-hand, 
attended the delivery of these sermons, provided him with exact 
copies of tliem, and lie replied to them with such ability, from bis 



48 


swn pulpit, that multitudes flocked to hear him from all parts of the 
city, rejoicing that the cause of truth was so well defended. For this 
conscientious discharge of duty, he was grossly insulted, and his life 
endangered. He was assaulted by Popish soldiers while performing 
the burial service in his Church-yard; and was prevented from 
preaching several days by King James’", guards, who surrounded his 
Church, and threatened to shoot him if he should attempt to do so. 
These were the most cogent arguments used against him, and to ren¬ 
der them the more convincing, he was imprisoned with the celebrated 
Doctor William King, and some other Protestant Clergymen, who, 
like him, had preferred their duty to their interest and personal safe¬ 
ty. A third sermon delivered before this bigotted Prince was not so 
agreeable to him as the two former. One Moore, a Popish Ecclesi¬ 
astic, preaching before him in Christ Church, alleged that he did not 
do justice to the only true Church and her clergy, and said that 
Kings ought to consult their confessors in all temporal affairs, as the 
clergy possessed a temporal as well as spiritual right; but that Kings 
had nothing whatever to do with the management of spiritual affairs, 
but were to obey the orders of the Church. This was too much to 
be borne even by this priest-ridden Prince. The preacher, to avoid 
banishment, privately withdrew from the Court in consequence of a, 
message lie received from the incensed King, who, nevertheless, has¬ 
tened to gratify the Popish Clergy, by indicting severe injury .and in¬ 
sult on the Protestant Bishops and their Clergy. Their churches in 
the metropolis had been all seized in the course of the preceding 
month of February, and converted into store-houses for arms. Out 
of twenty-two spiritual Peers, only seven remained in Ireland, the 
others had fled from persecution, with many of the inferior Clergy, 
who were at that time subsisting by the means of private alms in the 
western parts of England. Of the Bishops who remained oi. account 
of age and infirm health, three were treated in a cruel and inhuman 
manner. The Primate, Dr. Michael Boyle, then upwards of eighty 
years old, had the temerity to refuse a subscription to some Friars 
who had applied to him for aid to build a mass-house, and the conse¬ 
quence was, that a warrant was issued by Sir Thomas Hac.ket, for the 
apprehension of that Prelate’s son and nephew, who were seized and 
kept in prison for several months. Dr. John Roan, Bishop of Killa- 
loe, was robbed of all his substance; and Dr. Hugh Gore, Bishop 
of Waterford, at the age of seventy-eight years, was seized in bis bed 
by a hand of ruffians, stripped and beaten till he was left for dead. 
The Archbishopric of Cashel and the Bishoprics of Clogher, Elphin, 
and Clonfert, were seized with many inferior benefices, and the mo¬ 
ney received out of them disposed of in maintenance of Popish Bishops 
and Priests in direct violation of the existing Laws and Constitution 
of the realm. Several of the parochial clergy were cruelly beaten 
and ill treated. They were waylaid as they went out upon their cle- 


¥ 


49 


fical duty, fired at, wounded, and in many instances narrowly escaped 
with their lives; some were beaten with such severity that they died 
in a short time afterwards, and Archbishop King says that the Pro¬ 
testant parishioners were in general so apprehensive of the danger in 
which their Ministers were, that they besought them to withdraw 
themselves out of it by flying to England or Scotland. Those who 
were unable or unwilling to leave their homes and parishes, were 
obliged to walk from house to house to perform their offices, as their 

horses had been taken from them ; and at last they were almost all 
• * 

committed to prison, and some of them tried for their lives and con¬ 
demned to death as traitors and rebels ; even in the city of Dublin, 
tinder the eye of James and his Government, a Protestant Clergyman 
could scarcely walk the streets without receiving either injury or 
abuse. The soldiers considered it part of their duty to insult them, 
and the French dragoons called them D tables desminestres hereliqu,es % 
tin Protestant , nn Diable . 

On the eighth of April James left Dublin, and marched with big 
army towards Ulster ; it consisted of twelve thousand men and a to¬ 
lerable train of artillery. His Generals were, Monsieur Maumont, 
who commanded the French horse, and the Marquis de Mensea, 
Pusignian, who had charge of the infantry. He was accompanied by 
the Duke of Berwick, Lords Netterville and Abercorn, and many 
other Noblemen and Gentlemen of distinction. Sir Michael Creagh, 
Lord Mayor of Dublin, accompanied tbe unfortunate Prince in the 
double capacity of Paymaster-General to the army, and commander 
of a regiment of foot. In his progress through the North, James 
stopped a few days at Armagh, which he found inconvenient to him¬ 
self and his train, as it had hut a few days before been pillaged by 
the retreating Protestant army. 

From this he sent Monsieurs de Posen and Maumont to view the 
troops at Dungannon, to which place he went immediately after¬ 
wards himself, where he saw the regiment of Cavenagh, armed half 
with pikes and half with musquets ; but so bad and so much out of 
order, that not one hundred of them were fit for service, which sur¬ 
prised him very much, and made him redouble his orders for bring¬ 
ing arms into Ulster from Cork, Kinsale, and Waterford, with all 
speed. The Marquis de Pusignian waited on him here, and informed 
him that Lieutenant-General Hamilton’s army at Strabane, was in 
little better condition than that at Dungannon, for want of arms and 
ammunition, which obliged the King to reiterate his orders to the 
Duke of Tyrconnei and Sfeur de Pointis, for a speedy supply of 
both. On the fourteenth he proceeded to Omagh, from which he 
found Hamilton had marched with his army for Strabane, and Pusig- 
ni in, with a considerable body of horse and dragoons for Clady-ford. 
Upon bearing here that the Protestants had shewn themselves in great 



50 


lumbers on tbe Donegal side of the Finn water, be sent forward 
Rosen and Maumont, with Monsieur Lery and the troops that re¬ 
mained in Omagh, except one regiment of foot and one troop of 
dragoons, to secure, if possible, the pass over the river. 

On the same day that General Hamilton, the Duke of Berwick, 
rind Monsieur Pusignian, forced their passage over the Finn at Cla- 
dy-ford, Monsieur de Rosen, according to King James’s account of 
the campaign, published in Macpherson’s collection of state papers, 
crossed over the river at Lifford, with so small a force as two troops 
of horse and one of dragoons, though the Protestants on the Done¬ 
gal side who opposed them, were effectually ten times their number. 
The Royal Historian says, that de Rosen and his General officers 
leading the way, the troops courageously followed them, swimming 
the river, and by so bold an action terrified their adversaries, who 
fled upon the first charge made upon them, and were pursued with 
considerable slaughter for three or four miles. 

On the sixteenth of April King James returned from Omagh to 
Charlemont, from which he sent a body of troops to reinforce the 
garrison at Coleraine, as also some aid to Ms friends in the county of 
Down, where there was some appearance of a rising of the Protes¬ 
tant population against him. PI is intention was to return to Dublin 
for the purpose of providing all things necessary for the siege of Der- 
rv, but on that night he received an express from the General offi¬ 
cers of his army in the neighbourhood of that city, informing him 
that after resting the troops on the seventeenth arid eighteenth, they 
had resolved to join ail their force, and advance to the gates at once, 
in expectation of being admitted, on account of the general conster¬ 
nation which had seized the multitudes who had fled there, on the 
passages of the Finn water being forced. 

On the morning of the seventeenth another express arrived to Mm 
from the Duke of Berwick, saying that the Derry-men, whom lie 
termed rebels, had sent to capitulate with General Hamilton, who 
had referred them to Monsieur de Rosen, as his superior officer, and 
that de Rosen had offered them the benefit of Lis Majesty’s procla¬ 
mation, as an inducement to a prompt submission. Nothing could 
be mose acceptable to James than this intelligence, for the success of 
liis attempt to regain the Crown, evidently depended on Lis getting 
possession of sucli a point in Ireland as Londonderry, from which he 
could act by transmitting his army into Scotland. Lord Dundee and 
a powerful party of nobility and gentry, would have received him with 
enthusiasm in the ancient realm of his family, and their devotion to him 
was blended with feelings of self-preservation, which offered the best 
security for fidelity, as by the triumph of William the Episcopal Church 
of Scotland was prostrated, and Presbyterianism established on its 
ruins. He therefore resolves] at once to return to the North-We*t 


I Istef, and present himself before the prates of Londonderry* 
convinced by the accounts which lie had received, that nothing nine 
Was wanting to the accomplishment of his most sanguine wishes than 
his presence there. A report too had prevailed in the North that lie 
bad returned to Brest, and died there, and this rumour it was ne¬ 
cessary to contradict as soon as possible, by shewing himself at the 
head of Lis hitherto victorious army. Therefore leaving a great part 
oi his train at Charlemont, and taking with him only those Who were 
necessary to his household, he rode a long and painful journey or 
thirty miles to Newtown-Stewart, where lie arrived late at night, 
lie rested, without undressing himself, for a few hours in Lord 
Mountjoy’s castle there, which his army afterwards burned on their 
retreat, and the next morning, by break of day, 1 9 was on horse¬ 
back and rode to Strabane, where he arrived at eight o’clock. There 
he received a letter from De Rosen, informing him of a second ca¬ 
pitulation from Derry, and that he was marching with the whole 
army to present himself before the gates. The same letter informed 
him that the English ships, with two regiments on board were an¬ 
chored in Lough Foyle. Disappointed at not finding the army there, 
James did not stop at Strabane, though a local tradition says he slept 
there that night. He passed the river on horseback, and overtook 
the infantry commanded by Monsieur Pusignian, near Ballindrate, 
about two miles from Lifford; and having viewed them without stop¬ 
ping, he went on to join Monsieur de Rosen, who bad marched 
from Strabane about four hours before Ids arrival there. A part of 
the horse had been sent on the preceding day to Rap hoe, as well 
to save the provisions, as to drive the Protestants as it were into a 
net in the Peninsula,- between Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle, 


and 


thereby prevent even a possibility of their escape. De Rosen, how¬ 
ever, had got within two miles of Derry before be was overtaken by 
his Royal Master, who then put himself at the bead of his army, 
and marching directly towards the city, halted on a hill within can¬ 
non shot of the walls. 

The place was now surrounded, except on the water side, by horsg 
and foot, presenting a most formidable appearance to a garrison un¬ 
used to warfare, and distracted by the counsels of a party within, 
their walls, which, at this moment, possessed sufficient inSucnce to 
procure an offer of surrender to be signed, and sent out, to General 
Hamilton by Captain White. The bearer was however to stipulate 
that the besieging army should not, in the meantime, advance within 
four miles of the city. Rosen, in the mean time, had distributed the 
besieging army in such a way as to invest the place, from the river un¬ 
der Ballou gry to the shore at Culmore. According to Captain mau¬ 
ds Neville’s map of the city and adjoining lands, as besieged at this 
time, the order in which the troops were stationed was as fonows. 
Commencing with Lord Galmoy's horse and Sir Micheal Cr 


eagliN 




Tejrtmettfc of foot, extending from Banougry hill to the water, viz. 1 
the regiments commanded !>y Colonel Barrington, Colonel Butler, 
Colonel Ramsay, Lord Shine, Colonel Hamilton and Lord Gormans- 
town. Sir Maurice Fw-Piee and Ids regiment had charge of the raa- 
grazine, between General Hamilton's quarters and a mill a little to 
the north of the Bishop’s demesne. In General Hamilton's front 
was a strong post, and between it and Pennyburn-nr ill were Colo¬ 
nel Cavan eg h and his regiment. Colonel Butler's was encamped 
near Charles-fort and round to the bank of the river, where the 
?)oom was afterwards fixed, and on the opposite side, a little lower 
down, was Sir Neill O'Neill’s regiment of dragoons. Lord Clam-arty 
and his men occupied a position on the road to Greencastle, about 
half-way between Charlcs-fcrt and an old chapel on the rising 
ground above Culmore ; and between this chapel and the river, Fitz¬ 
gerald’s and Bagnal’s regiments shut out all communication by land 
between Culmore and the city. The fort had a mound of sod-work 
for its protection on the land side, and the batteries on the side to¬ 
wards the water were very formidable to vessels coming up the 
river. 

The officers of the besieging army, as well as James himself, ap¬ 
pear to have been ignorant of what had occurred on this and the pre¬ 
ceding day in the city, which they hoped to gain so easily. 
In the midst of the consternation artfully spread around by 
Lundy, and after the indignant citizens bad slain one retreat¬ 
ing officer and wounded another, a gallant country gentleman 
named Murray, arrived at the head of a body of cavalry, and 
although the faithless Governor refused him admittance into the 
city, forcibly entered it and was received with acclamation. He 
harangued the surrounding crowds on the perfidy of their Governor, 
and expatiated on the baseness of surrendering a place garrisoned by 
such brave men, to an abdicated King and a Popish army. Rosen, in 
the mean time, regardless of the stipulation made by General Hamil¬ 
ton, ordered the troops to advance towards the city, and they posted 
themselves very near to it, under the shelter of a wind mill and a 
house near it. He detached other bodies of his men along the low 
lands called the Bogside, near the ButcherVgate. While this was 
doing, a trumpet arrived from the city to the King, requiring an 
hour’s time to consider his summons to surrender, and desiring that 
the troops should advance no farther than they had done. Rosen 
took no notice of this, and’ the trumpeter was afterwards killed. In 
a few minutes, as the Irish army continued to advance with James at 
their lead, a terrific discharge of cannon and musquetiy commenced 
from the walls of the city, and continued with lijtle or no intermission 
for the rest of the day. Several of the besWino- nrmv fidl hy this fire, 

the King’s 


and among the rest one € 


Several of the besieging army fell b 
Japtain Troy, who was killed near i 


53 


person. Tills salutation, unexpected as it was, from Lundy’s repre* 
mentations, who had, on the preceding night, caused the gates to re¬ 
main open tiil Major Crofton secured them, and doubled the guards, 
had such an effect upon the undisciplined Irish and their unfortunate 
King, that the utmost terror and confusion prevailed amongst them. 
The treacherous council of the city in vain endeavoured to allay their 
apprehensions, by sending Archdeacon Hamilton to the Irish camp, to 
excuse themselves for what had passed, and lay the blame of it on. a 
turbulent body of men whom they were unable to restrain, and 
whom they falsely represented as a drunken rabble. The better sort 
they said were generally resolved to surrender in a dutiful manner, 
and did all they could to persuade the common people to do the same. 
James, h<>wev r, to use the language of ids own niary, had eat 
nothing for the whole of that day, and notwithstanding that ami the 
fatigue c ’ trie two preceding days, had remained the whole of it on 
horseback, expo to cannon, and under heavy and incessant rain, 
waiting for the effects of the assurances which had been given to him. 
He therefore resolved to draw off bis troops, and retired to St. John¬ 
ston, to wait the arrival cf the arid ery which he expected, and to 
provide other necessaries either for a siege or a bio eke. e. Archdea- 
£onHamilton abandoned the city, took a protection from the abdi¬ 
cated King,* and entertained him during h:s stay at oe castle of Mon-* 
gevelin, within a short distance of St. Johnston. Contain Murray, 
in the mean time, had advanced from Culmore fertt; a greep held 
below Pennyburn-mill, with a body of horse considerable enough ;■;> 
dislodge the enemy which had occupied this ground before he ap¬ 
proached to it, and he left fifteen hundred men below BroOk-lia'sl as a 
body of reserve. His first appearance had the effect ol inducing the 
ardent spirits within the walls to give the astonished tyrant and hid 


slav 

expr 


and he now received 


res a reception which astonished them ; and i:c 
press from the Governor and Council, requiring him to with¬ 
draw 7 his men without delay to the hack of the hiil, out of view of too 
city. The messenger, who was a relative and name-sake of the gallant 
Murray, informed him that the Governor and Council vveie tneii 
making terms fqr a surrender of the city, and advised hum J he 
wished to save it, to lose not ime in hastening to cue aid ot too citizens, 
who had detei mined not to capitulate while they could raise an anil 
to defend themselves. He therefore resolved to march to the City, and 
after some opposition from the enemy s dragoons as lie passed along 
the river side, arrived safely at Shipquay-gate. ino Council sent him 
a message, that he might be taken up alone upon Jie wtv.s by a iope, 
but this proposal he treated with disdain, and Captain Moirison, who 
commanded the guard, without waiting for oroers, opened u e gam 
to him and his troops. His presence, says Mackinzie, struck a cold 
damp in the Governor and Council, but inspired the men oaths wails 


54 


with vigour and resolution. The Council, however, proceeded iu 
their attempt to surrender, and many of them signed a declaration to 
that purpose, who afterwards signalized themselves in the defence of 
the City. Murray was received by the multitude with every demon¬ 
stration of respect, confidence, and affection. They detailed to him 
their wrongs, and implored his assistance. He replied, that he would 
Stand by them to the latest hour of his existence, in defence of the 
Protestant interest, and that his first act should be the prevention of 
a surrender, and his next, the suppression of Lundy and bis Council. 
Captain Noble, of Lisnaskea, in the county of Fermanagh, and a 
Captain Bashford, with many other gentlemen, declared their resolu¬ 
tion to second the noble designs of Murray, and all who would join 
them were desired to signify their intention by putting a bandage of 
white cloth round their left arm. This scene is not ill described in 
the homely verse of a manuscript, said to be found in a gentleman’s 
library at Armagh about thirty years ago, and which, mutilated as it 
has been, by a loss of eight pages in the most interesting part of it, 
records more of the names and circumstances of the defenders of Lon¬ 
donderry, than any of the other accounts which we have had of the 
transactions of that eventful time. 

The illiterate, but amusing poet, thus describes Murray’s entranct 
on his career of gloyy :— 

“ Archdeacon Hamilton by James is sent 
Into the city with this compliment: 

If they in four days would yield up the town, 

All the inhabitants should have their own, 

"With pardon for their past rebellion. 

And he in his commission fared so well. 

That Lundy forc’d the town to article. 

Th’ ingenious Neville, and the said divine, 

"Went to King James to tell him they would sign 
In a few days, to hasten which the King 
The Irish army to the town did bring j 
Delays are dangerous, he urges on 
The town to sign the capitulation. 

Which being signed, and ready to he sent, 

Great Murray throws himself and compliment 
Just to the walls : he lay then at Culmore, 

And bravely fought his way upon the shore. 

Lundy refus’d him entrance—but the town 
Open’d their gate, untp their great renown. 

The loyal party knew Ills grand design, 

And to his conduct they themselves resign. 

Then in a moment all the town rebels, 

And curse the author of the articles : 

Jor at the guard a proclamation's made, 
hat all true hearts repair to the parade 
V> ith handkerchiefs on arms, that all shall die. 

Who would yield up the town to popery. 

T-hen in a trice eight thousand met* convene, 

T? whom great Murray did this speech begin; 


Dear friends, this City is our last support; 

Let us not yield I earnestly exhort. 

Lest that it should to our disgrace be spoke, 

That we submitted to an Irish yoke : 

Hold out brave boys, England will succour send, 
If we like men our City do defend ; 

Here are sufficient to sustain a siege, 

If we to loyalty ourselves oblige : 

Yet ail is vain if we do not expell, 

The traitor Lundy and his false cabal. 

The town consents, huzzas now rend the sky. 

Then unto Lundy all in anger fly ; 

To whom great Murray spoke this fatal speech : 

Of treachery I do you now impeach, 

Both to the Protestants and to our Kins’-— 

A Popish reign upon us you would bring. 

You left Tyrone unto the enemy ; 

At Claely ford you made our army fly. 

And now you’re plotting to betray the town, 

By a capitulation of your own. 

Therefore lay down your pow’r, for we will cliusft, 
Such loyal men as will oppose our foes. 

Lieutenant Cook, who from fair Lisburn came. 
Courageously stood forth and said the same. 

Great Murray seized the guards, the keys and all: 
They presently a general council call. 

The Church and Kirk did thither jointly go. 

In opposition to the common foe. 

Although in time of peace they disagree, 

They sympathize in their adversity. 

Then in like words great Murray thus addrcst— 
The intestine foe I have at last supprest: 

Here at your feet I lay down all my pow’r. 

KVVW WWv* WWVI VSTVSM WVWVI 

Then all with one consent. 

Agreed upon a form of government. 

Baker and Walker Governors they chose, 

And form’d eight regiments to meet their foes# 

The horse to Colonel Murray they bestow : 

Him General in the field they do allow. 

From Philiphaugh, near Tweed, his fathers came. 
The noble name of j\f CR.it ay is well known. 

For their great service to the Royal Crown. 
Cairnes, of Knockmany’s his Coi’nel. 

From Meath’s fair county came his Major Bull: 
Cochran, Carlton, Moore, Herd, and Murray, 
His valiant brothers, Captains to him be. 

The Borderers did fill his regiment. 

Which to the field with noble courage went. 

The foot in manner following they dispose; 

Baker and Walker Colonels they chose— 

Whitney and Mitchelburn that honour gain; 

To Parker the brave regiment of Colerain : 

Crofton and Hammel the same station grace— 
These and the Volunteers defend the place. 
Watson’s made master of the artillery, 

Two hundred gunners and m qu tresses bo ; 


so 


James Murray was conductor of the tram; 

Our Engineer was Adams of Strabane. 

For Major of the town Captain Freeman— 

Thus in few hours they form’d a noble band, 

Yv’hicb did King James’s forces all withstand.” 

The rustic poet proceeds to describe the position of the different 
regiments in the besieging army, in which ho differs considerably 
-from the representation of them in Captain Neville s map. Lord 
Louth’s camp tie places on the east beyond the river, at Strong’s or¬ 
chard—Brigadier-GeneraL Kearney’s division be stations with Sir 
Neill O’Neill’s dragoons, and be assigns a place to Monsieur Ma- 
mount near General Hamilton, at Brook-hail. An air of truth per¬ 
vades this poem, and impresses a conviction on the amid, that it pre¬ 
sents to us a picture drawn from life, and for this reason, as well a* 
for the transmission of many names to posterity, unrecorded in any 
other way, it shall be quoted with slight verbal alterations, as oppor¬ 
tunities may offer in the course of this narrative. 

It may be easily conceived that the climate of Derry had now* 
grown too warm, to suffer Governor Lundy to breathe in it much 
longer. “ He stole off,” says Dalrymnle, “ with a load upon his back, 
a disgraceful disguise, and suited to him who bore it.” Walker says' 
•that he got out with a burthen of matches on his shoulders, in a sally 
towards Culm ore—and r his last act was a successful endeavour to 
persuade the officer in command to surrender that fortress. Capt. 
Ash accuses ’Mt. Galbraith, an Attorney, and two persons named 
Adair, of selling Culmore to the Irish army. It is not however 
probable that such a transaction should have escaped the notice and 
animadversion of Walker^and Mackinzie, neither of whom mentions 
it. It was the day after the repulse of James from the walls of 
Londonderry, that the officers mentioned in the Armagh manuscript 
were appointed—Walker and Mitchelburn have both given lists of 
them, the total amount of men and officers being little more than se¬ 
ven thousand men. The town was weak in its fortifications, the wall 
being less than nine feet thick along the face of the ramparts, with a 
ditch and eight bastions, and some newly raised out works. Of all 
the guns upon the walls, which had been a present to the City from 
the London Companies, nearly half a century before this time, scarce¬ 
ly twenty were fit for use, and nearly twenty thousand women, chil¬ 
dren, and men unarmed, or incapable of bearing arms, diminished the 

probability of the garrison being able to sustain a protracted siege_ 

These were opposed to a Prince, who, notwithstanding all his mis¬ 
fortunes, possessed an influence in Ireland, which, if estimated bv 
the physical force of his adherents, was sufficient to bear down all 
opposition to him, and the number of his besieging army amounted t» 
twenty thousand men. 


67 


While ttie new Governors of Londonderry were examining th* 
public stores, observing the motions of the Irish regiments around th£ 
City, and assigning a position to each division of their own forces, 
the unhappy James, considering how much the troops he had with 
Turn at St. Johnston had been harassed on the preceding day, suf¬ 
fered them to remain there and take some rest. He held a Council 
on this night, when it was resolved thafr he should return with Rosea 
and Leiy, to meet the Parliament ho had summoned to assemble on 
the seventh of the succeeding month, and that Hamilton, Maumont, 
and the Duke of Berwick, should remain to reduce the Derry rebels, 
most of whom, he had heard from some sycophants, were running 
from the City into the wilds of Eunishowen. He then gave protec¬ 
tions to all the Protestants who submitted to him, and lie alleges that 
their number was great. On the twentieth he set out from St. John¬ 
ston, and dined on his way to Strabane under a large tree, in the 
front of Cavanacor-house, within a mile of Lifford. The table at 
which he sat, ami the china upon which his dinner was served up, 
are still ^reserved and shewn as curiosities in the adioining village of 
Ballindrate. In the evening he proceeded to Strabane, where he re¬ 
ceived a deputation, offering a surrender of Culmore fort, which he 
Accepted, and in consequence of which, General Hamilton was put 
in possession of it a few days afterwards. • 


On the same day a party of the besieging army marched towards 
Pennyburn-mill, and pitched their tents there, by which, as already 
mentioned, they hindered all passage to or from Culmore. The gar¬ 
rison dispatched a Mr. Benner, on a message to the English Govern¬ 
ment, and to protect him from the suspicions of the enemy, fired af¬ 
ter him as a deserter. At the same time Lord Strabane approached 
tiie walls, a great proportion of whose defenders were his tenants, 
and offered the King’s pardon, protection, and favour, to those who 
would surrender the place. During this parley the enemy were ob¬ 
served to draw their cannon forward, upon which his Lordship was 
desired to withdraw, on pain of being exposed to the danger of a shot, 
and as he retired he was told that the garrison of Londonderry would 
not surrender it to any but King William and Queen Mary, or their 
order. On Sunday the twenty-first, James rode from Strabane to 

*r • 

Omagh, in which latter [dace he received deputies from Castlederg, 
who offered a surrender of that fortress, which being strong in itself, 
and commanding a pass between Derry and Enniskillen, was granted 
favourable articles, and secured by a garrison. The Irish army in 
the morning of tills day alarmed the City, by firing on it from a demi- 
culverin, placed on the opposite side of the river. This, from the 
novelty of it, produced greater alarm than heavier cannonades did af¬ 
terwards, but did little or no mischief except to the market-house_ 

The first sally from the town was now made by a body of horse 
and foot, under the command of Colonel Murray; the Captains 


38 


foot being, Archibald Sanderson, "William Beatty, Thomas Biair 
and David Blair. Lieutenant-Colonel Cairnes and Captain Philip 
Dunbar, were posted on an eminence with a body of reserve.—- 
The horse amounted to three hundred in number, and Murray 
divided themiuto two parties, with the first of these lie courage 
ously charged the enemy himself, and the second was led forward 
by Major Nathaniel Bull, a gentleman of the County of Meath, to 
whom, as well as to bis father, Major Samuel Bull, the City of 
Londonderry was indebted for many eminent services. The rere 
was brought up by Captain Cochran, of Ballyrath, in the County 
of Armagh, who, when the men under his command fled, advanc¬ 
ed with a few gallant fellows to the scene of action, where his 
horse was killed under him, and lie received a wound in the leg.— 
The Irish divided their horse into two squadrons also ; the commander 
of one of them led them on with great bravery. Colonel Murray 
charged through that division of them, and in the course of the day 
had three personal encounters with him, in the last of which he killed 
him on the spot, and the enemy then confessed that ho was their Ge¬ 
neral, Maumont, whose brother also was said to have fallen by the 
hand of Murray, in this engagement. In the mean time the Irish horse 
had pursued the rere of the Derry cavalry towards the walls, to which 
they had retreated, but they were almost all killed by a body of the 
Protestant infantry, who, perceiving the retreat of their friends, had 
moved from a mill where they had done great execution, to the strand* 
near the Bog-side, in which they lined the ditches, and commanded 
the pass. In the commencement of the action, the enemy brought a 
piece of cannon to the point on the other side of the river, opposite 
to the strand, and fired frequently at the besieged without effect; but 
a gun from the wall at last dismounted the piece, killing the gunner 
and others who happened to be near him. The h * on the side of the 
enemy amounted to more than two hundred men killed, including 
Major-General Mamount, Majors Taafie and Wogan, Captain Fitz¬ 
gerald, and Quartermaster Cassore. The Marquis de Pusignian. was 
mortally wounded. The loss on the Derry ride was no more than nine 
or ten, among whom were Lieutenant M‘Phedris, Mr. Mackey, one 
Harkness, and five or six private soldiers killed, but the number of the 
wounded was considerable. Three standards were taken from the Iri ii 
army, with a great spoil of horses, saddles, cloaks, arms, watches, 
*nd money. 

The historical Drama already quoted, throws such light upon tha 
general history of the country, and the particular state of rite contend¬ 
ing armies in Ulster at this period, that a few extracts from it can 
hardly fail to be appropriate in this place. The scene having changed 
from Derry to the camp of the besiegers, at Pehnyburn-mill. Gene- 
neral Hamilton enters, accompanied by Sheldon, Doivingtcn, Ram¬ 
say, and Buchan. Sheldon then addresses the Commanding-Off- 


59 


ter in the following words—“ I understand, Hamilton, that the King 
has left the whole concern ot the campaign under vour care and con¬ 
duct ; and as you have been very fortunate hitherto, his Majesty is 
well assured there will be nothing wanting in future to the reduction 
ot these rebels to obedience.' “ Alas, Sir,” replies the General, 

our cause is lose! we are undone. The King might as well have 
staid at Paris, since we can do no good. One day now is a month’s 
loss ; England will he alarmed, the Prince of Orange will soon un¬ 
derstand our designs, all of which will be frustrated. If this unluc¬ 
ky accident, this opposition of the rebels to our occupying Lon¬ 
donderry bad not happened, we would have been in Scotland before 
this time ; we should have bad ail army in England, and the King of 
France would have assisted us. Alas! this perverse town disap¬ 
points, daunts, and so disgraces us, that all King James’s army 
could not reduce it, inconsiderable as it is. It is but a poor revenge 
to starve these people; they will say it is Popish cruelty, while we 
shall reap no advantage from it. In three or four months the English 
will land upon us and heat us out of the kingdom.” 

The dialogue then proceeds thus :— 

Sheldon —“ I must own, with great regret, the reason why we did 
not succeed ; it was our own fault; flushed with success on all sides, 
we were too sure of accomplishing our ends, and have, I fear, left 
an example to future ages of the consequence of despising even the 
most despicable enemy.” 

Buchan —“ This night the King sleeps at Strabane ; tbe next at 
Charlemont ; and so he proceeds to Dublin, where be will held the 
Parliament which he has summoned to assemble on the seventh of 
May, when the act of settlement shall be repealed, and some laws 
will be enacted for the good of the nation.” 

o 


Hamilton —“ Calling a Parliament, Buchan ! ’tis an act of folly, 
especially at this time. I can assure you he did not leave the French 
Court to call a Parliament in Ireland ; we have weightier matters in 
band. The method devised for him by the French King’s Council 
was to have taken fifty thousand men from this kingdom to join 
Ford Dundee’s army in Scotland, and march with an overwhelming 
force into England, where there are multitudes ready to joiu his 
standard on the first appearance of his ability to protect them. But 
this cursed town ruins all— (striking his breast) —it stops our cur¬ 
rent ; it is the destruction of our great designs ; it makes us little in 
the eyes of our confederates, and will absolutely be the ruin of us all. 
Thousands who were favouring our interest will now decline in their 
ardor, turn to the other side, and make the Prince of Orange more 
glorious than ever.” 

Ramsay —“ Had these people been pardoned and sent to their 
homes, we might, in all probability, have had tbe town by this time, 
and used it as a point of embarkation for Scotland, but you see how 
the contriving of mischief for others falls upon our own heads, spoil# 


60 


all the King's affairs, and loses an opportunity which we shall never 
meet again. All our ammunition must be brought by land-carriage 
from Kinsale, which is about two hundred miles distant from Lon¬ 
donderry. In the mean time our cause is lost; to save it we should 
•> 

have had here by this time five hundred barrels of gunpowder, twen¬ 
ty-four pieces of cannon, and all other necessary materials ready to 
our hand. All our designs prove vain ; delays of this kind never can 
he retrieved ; he never, never will enjoy his crown again. ’ 


The scene then changes to the city, and after a dialogue between 
two cf the Aldermen, who, late in life, and cowardly in disposition, 
had nevertheless changed the gown for the sword, and accepted the 
command of companies, it shifts about again to the Irish camp, when 
the dialogue is thus resumed ;— 


Hamilton —“ I had ail these letters from ihe town giving an ac¬ 
count of the ring-leaders of the rebels, and of their new Governor ; 
the old one, it seems, they have turned out. I have' likewise an as¬ 
surance of the scantiness of their stores ; there is very little in them.” 

Ramsay —“ But, Sir, the private houses are well furnished, and 
there is more meal and other provisions in some cf them than in the 
stores. 

Waucop —“ I had a note last night from a very honest Burgher, 
who was Deputy-Mayor to Colonel Cormack O'Neill, who was plac¬ 
ed there by Lord Tyrconnel, when a Quo Warranto was issued 
against their charter ; John Buchanan they call him ; he makes - his 
request to your Excellency for a protection for himself and his family, 
and several others.” 

Hamilton —“ My secretary is drawing five hundred of these pro¬ 
tections. There is one of my name who makes great profit by selling 
them at half-a-guinea apiece. 

Buchan —Your Excellency may see that tlie cobweb govern¬ 
ment of Londonderry is tottering already.” 

Hamilton —“ If it is not tottering I will make it totter, and those 
rebels shall totter by scores upon yonder gallows.” 


The scene then changes to the city, from which two thousand cho¬ 
sen musqueteers are suddenly sent out. The battle on the strand is 
represented; Murray being designated by the stage name of Mon- 
rath ; Walker called Evangelist; Baker, Anthony, and Mitchelburn, 
Granade. It is probable that this interesting drama was written 
during the life-time of some of these and the other defenders of the 
city, who were occasionally present at the representation of it on tlie 
stage, and the subject of it not being as tlie term is, “ ripe for histo¬ 
ry," their real ngmes could not with propriety be used to designate 
their characters. The true names are given in these extracts, there 
being no longer a necessity for using the fictitious ones. 

The scene changes once more to the quarters of General Hamil- 


61 


ton, who thus addresses Generals Wan cop and Buchan . 

“ A man came to me not long since and told me that a swarm or 
two of the rebels came out of the city to take the air ; they are so 
hot in keeping within that hive of theirs, that the old ones turn out 
the young ones. I’ll serve them one of these days as they do the 
bees ; put brimstone under their hive and smother them all. I was 
indeed going towards them on horseback, but on reflection thought 
it not worth my while to take that trouble. We shall have a hundred 
or two of them to hang presently. I have indeed allowed quarter to 
lie given, but it is only for three days, to sport with them, to tanta¬ 
lize them, to serve them as a cat does a mouse, play with them a 
little and then devour them.” 

JVaucop —“ I take that very well, if it were no more than to make 
them an example to the country.” 

Enter Sheldon —“ What news Sheldon? What prisoners shall we 
have to hang ?” 

Sheldon —“ Prisoners, Hamilton ! Your men were all beaten ; 
the enemy were near having* enough of our men prisoners, for if Lord 
Galmov had not come down with his horse, and Brigadier-General 
Bam say with three brigades of infantry from Ballougry, we would 
have been entirely routed. This reinforcement caused the rebels to 
retire, but Lieutenant-General Maumont lias been killed, with a great 
many more.” 

Hamilton — u Is it possible ?” 

Sheldon —“ It is very certain Sir.” 

Hamilton — <c Oh most miserable! These rebels begin to gel 
heart ; let me immediately have a fort built to cover Pennyburn-mill, 
and another at Ballougry to cover my infantry.” 

The scene then chancres to Londonderry, where Mitchelbum thus 
addresses Baker, Walker, Campbell, Murray, and the Town • 
Major:— 

“ A blessed Sunday's work! this is now something like success ; 
there is some sport on our side at last. See the white carcasses of 
our enemies lying on the ground. Brave hoys ; they find what stuff 
we are made of ; all good men and true, My dear Murray, (shaking 
hands with him) you laid about you with a witness ! Let us turn 
aside a little and see what plunder our soldiers have got.” 

Enter six soldiers ; they pass over the stage ; one with a pair of 
jack-hoots , a troopers coat, and a case of pistols ; another with a fine 
laced- saddle , crying, il herds plunder !" a third with a scarlet coat 
with plate hut tons, a hat and feathers ; the fourth a large wig, with 
a silver kilted sword and gold fringed gloves ; the fifth with a fine 
green purse of slight net-work, filed- with Spanish pistoles, crying 

plunder you rogues! gold boys ;” a sixth in his broad Scot tea) acr 
cent informs the Governor that he had gotten a guid horse, bid o'er 
rnuckle do gang in by the door-way. 


62 


Mitchelbimi— u This success will much enliveil oiif men ; we shall 
toow begin to feel how the enemy’s pulse beats.” 

Baker — u Aye, and their hearts too before we hare done with 
them.” 

An express was sent to James with an account of this disaster, 
and it overtook him in Omagh on the ensuing day. He w3s much 
concerned at the enterprise against Derry commencing with the loss of 
Maumont, and was weak enough to order his corpse to he carried to 
Dublin, a circumstance likely to afford a triumph to his enemies in 
every part of the country through which the funeral should pass. He 
wrote at the same time to Hamilton, positively forbidding the Gene¬ 
ral Officers to expose themselves as Maumont had done, notwith¬ 
standing the remonstrances of Sheldon and other experienced officers, 
a practice which, lie observed, was as contrary to prudence as to the 
known rules of war, and certainly one of which he never appeared 
very ready to set an example in Ireland. 

It is much to be regretted that Walker has omitted to give credit 
to Murray for having slain Maumont in single combat on this day; 
but it was uncandid in the publishers of the Dublin and Derry edi¬ 
tions of his Diary, to allege that the omission was a decisive proof of 
a disagreement between them. Walker’s conduct towards the gallant 
Murray on that occasion was that of a man superior to such a motive 
for his silence. When Murray was surrounded by a crowd of assail¬ 
ants and likely to be overpowered by them, notwithstanding the pro¬ 
digies cf valour and strength which he exhibited, the venerable Go¬ 
vernor rushed from the city to his assistance, mounted a horse whose 
rider had been killed, rallied the retreating Protestants, and st the 
imminent peril of his life, rescued his friend from impending death. 
Mackinzie does justice to Murray, but is silent respecting Walker ; 
hut as his narrative was professedly written to “ rectify the mistakes 
and supply the omissions,” and not to add any thing to the dazzling 
fame of his renowned co-temporary, this omission is the less surpris¬ 
ing. It affords, however an additional proof of the necessity of a 
new and more satisfactory account of the transactions of this interest-* 
ing period than any which has hitherto appeared. 

Captain Ash says that there was much gold found in the pocket 
of Pusignian and Taafe, and that during the whole of this day the 
enemy’s camion played upon the city from the other side of the*liver, 
by which some houses in Pump-street were demolished. 

The poem found at Armagh records so many names and probable 
circumstances, not mentioned by any of the journalists of this siege, 
that a transcript of the most curious parts of it, with a few verbal 
amendments, and some attempt to polish its rustic versification, can¬ 
not but be acceptable to all who deem the preservation of the history 
#f our country to be sui object of importance to posterity. The fol- 


G3 




fcwlig is the account given in it of this battle ' 

On Sunday morn 

By break of day, the Irish force advanc’d 
Tn squadrons two, their horse prepar’d to fight 
On the left wing ; their foot were on the right. 
Maumont their horse, Hamilton their foot command. 
At Pennyburn river they began to stand. 

The sound of drums and trumpets rend the air, 

The flow’r of all King James’s men were there. 

The noble Murray hastens to the strand, 

And in like manner does his troops command. 

Foot against foot, horse against horse he plac’d. 

In gallant order to the en’my fac’d. 

lie with a thousand foot his horse sustain’d. 

Which noble stratagem the battle gain’d. 

Mounted upon a gallant steed that hour. 

He fought the Irish with unequal pow’r. 

The loud huzzas of both hosts rend the sky, 

Each side prepar’d to conqueror to die. 

The-French came on with glittering sword in hand, 
But our quick firing made their horses stand. 
Maumont the French, Murray our horse led on. 

tv'AA* 

Murray like thunder through their squadrons broke* 

A gallant Monsieur fell at every stroke. 

Maumont did also with like terror ride 
Thro’ troops retreating round on every side. 

Both squadrons fight with equal force and rage. 

And in close combat mutually engage ; 

Till prostrate bodies covered all the shore. 

For both reserves had fled the spot before. 

Ours in the city their protection found, 

Theirs was unable to maintain their ground. 

For Luddle brave, an English Buccaneer, 

A thousand footmen marching in his rear, 

Made the proud enemy soon disappear. 

In this pursuit stout Captain Ta*ife was slain. 

Brave Captain Cochran did that honour gain. 
Lieutenant Carr, the Laird of Graddon’s soa. 

In this affair great reputation won. 

The strand thus clear’d, Murray and Maumont meet'. 
Who with dire threatnings one another greet. 

For they had often sought each other out, 

But still were parted in the bloody rout. 

They first discharged their pistols on the spot, 

In which brave Murray's fiery steed was shot. 

Yet the brave beast ne’er felt the deadly wound, 

But pranc’d and wheel’d upon the bloody ground; 
Redoubled blows they gave with sword in hand, 
Which the strong armour scarcely could withstand. 

At last, their swords in several pieces pieces flew, 

• And with their rapiers they the fight renew'. 

’Twas then Maumont began to falsify, 

r/w%« i 

M# wheel'd lus horse, which then begsn to spurn* 


But noble Murray made a quick return. 

For under his raised arm his steel he thrust. 

Till at his neck the purple gore out burst. 

His fleeting soul with the free blood expir’d 
And our great hero to the foot retir’d, 

Where they the Irishmen had soundly beat. 

And caused them all to make a quick retreat. 

Brave Major Blair the hottest fire sustain’d. 

And by great feats a reputation gain’d. 

Young Francis Crofison to the battle flew, 

And with his sword a multitude he slew. 

Noble like light’ning fell among their foot, 

Dunbar’s red coats too put them to the rout. 

The valiant Ccoke from Lisnagarvey iought, 

And conquer’d many who his ruin sought. 

Lieutenant Rankin bew’d the Irish down. 

And in that bloody battle gain’d renown. 

Tom Barr a trooper, with one mighty blow. 

Cut off the head of an opposing foe. 

Two thousand slain the river side then fill’d. 

And many officers of note were kill’d. 

On our side some ; brave Cornet Brown was slain, 

Mac Phetrix died upon the purple plain. 

Lieutenant Mackay fell upon the spot, 

M‘Cleland’s son was wounded with a shot. 

The ancient father did the son revenge, 

And with the foe fuil many a blow exchange. 

The parents view’d their son’s exploits that day. 

From the strong walls above the broad Ship-quay ; 

For near that place upon the shore they fought. 

r/vwj 

Then backward to the town 
Our host return’d in triumph and renown. 

Great was the spoil and plunder of that day. 

For all return’d with some substantial prey. 

One brought a pyebald horse, which Columbkill 
Foretold if taken at the Pennyburn- mill, 

The Irish might expect no more success ; 

This fated horse was taken in the chase.” 

On the twenty-second of this month the abdicated King sent » 
General Officer from Charlemont to command some forces which he 
had ordered to march towards Carrickfergus to prevent the landing of 
the English there, in case their ships, which had sailed out of Lough 
Foyle, should attempt to do so ; and being informed there was some 
new commotions of the Protestants in the county of Down, he sent 
a reinforcement to his troops there. On the twenty-third he arrived 
in Newry, and finding the disorders in the county of Down increase, 
sent back another troop of dragoons to his army, leaving no force to 
guard his person on his return to the metropolis. This day the Irish 
army planted two pieces of cannon in the lower end of Strong’s or¬ 
chard, about eighty perches distant from Londonderry, on the other 
side of the Foyle opposite Ship-quay-street. These threw balls of 
about ten pounds weight each, and with them they played so inces- 


G5 


santly on tliat street, penetrating the garrets and walls, that many 
persons were wounded by them, and it became unsafe to remain in ti e 
upper parts of any of the houses. The besieged threw up a blind, 
as they termed it, to preserve the inhabitants of this street, and re¬ 
turned the fire from their walls with such effect, as to kill Lieutenant- 
Colonel O’Nell, Lieutenant Fitzpatrick, two serjeants, several pri¬ 
vate soldiers, and two Friars in their habits, to the great grief of the 
Irish, says Walker, for they were indignant beyond measure, that 
the blood of these holy men should he spilled by an heretical rabble, 
as they termed the defenders of Londonderry. 

Monsieur Pusignian died this evening of the wounds which lie re¬ 
ceived in the battle of the preceding Sunday, and King James, on 
receiving the news of his death, was much concerned at it, for this 
officer, as well as MaumOnt, was as much esteemed for obliging 

manners as lie had been respected for courage and conduct_ 

On the twenty-fourth, Captain Ash says, the enemy began to throw 
bomb* into Londonderry, a practice which, in a short time, became 
too familiar with them. On the next day King James arrived in 
Drogheda, from which he proceeded, after one night’s rest, to Dub¬ 
lin. Tyrconnel had not returned from visiting the country garrisons ; 
the expected supply of arms had not arrived from Cork, Kinsale, or 
Waterford, and the Protessant artificers had not been very active 
during his absence in repairing the old musquets in the arsenal, or 
making the tools necessary for Ills Engineers. He therefore renewed 
his orders on these heads, and taking all possible methods to obtain 
the necessary supply of camion, small arms, and ammunition, resolv¬ 
ed to form three camps on the expected surrender of Derry, cue to¬ 
wards Scotland, to cover the embarkation of troops for that country, 
and the others in the neighbourhood of Dublin. Lord Mount-Cashel 
was appointed Muster-Master of artillery, and the King resolved to 
send several pieces of cannon to Derry by sea, but this latter project 
was frustrated by the appearance of some English vessels in the chan¬ 
nel. Tyrconnel returned to Du]din in a few days after James’s arri¬ 
val there, and reported that he had found so many efficient men. 
among the Irish infantry, that he did not disband them in the pro¬ 
portion which he had resolved to do when he left town. Those 
whom he had disbanded had committed great atrocities wherever they 
went, so that it became necessary to restrain them by the appoint¬ 
ment of Provost-Marshals nTeach of the provinces; hut the King 
set them a had example at the same time by ordering the goods 
of all absent Protestant3 to be seized and confiscated. 


On the twenty-fifth of April the besieging army placed their mor¬ 
tars again in Strong’s orchard, and fired a few small bombs across the 
river, on the Ship-quay-street of Derry. The greater part of these 
fell in the street, and one of them killed an old woman in a garret. 
The first that was discharged fell into a house where several officers 


were at dinner, and rolling over a bed that was in the room, did then 
no injury, but passed into a lower room, where it killed the landlord 
mid broke a hole through the outer wall, through which the guests 
went out, as it had by the concussion choaked up the doors of 
the house. In consequence of this, the ammunition Avas secured in 
the vaults under the Cathedral Church, in dry wells, and in the 
cellars of private houses. In the mean time Colonel Murray, with 
<some cavalry and a strong body of foot, which lie always supported 
by dragoons, sallied out of the town and drove the enemy from the 
trenches into which they had thrown themselves. Some of the foot 
bad followed the retreating enemy too far, and a party of their 
horse suddenly forced them to fall back upon their main body, who, 
forming themselves in a line behind a ditch on the road side, fired 
with such effect upon the pursuers, as to throw them into great con¬ 
fusion, and oblige them to retreat. The Derry-men then pursued 
them to Pennyburn-mill, and pressed so hard upon them, that their 
dragoons, who themselves had just been beaten out of an old mill 
about a mile higher up on the same water, found it necessary to leave 
their horses behind them, and reinforce their distressed friends afc 
Pennyburn. The Derry-men kept their enemy at warm work in 
this place until the evening, and returned Avithoat much loss. A 
party of the besieged Avhich Avent out towards the close of the day 
to cover the retreat of those who Avere engaged at Pennyburn, were 
beaten back, but without loss, by a party of horse which had been 
dispatched from the Irish camp, each of them carrying a foot-man 
behind him. Those Avho signalized themselves on this occasion with 
Colonel Murray, were, Major Bull and Captains Obrey, John Ken¬ 
nedy, Archibald Saunderson, Michael Cuningham, William Beatty, 
end William Moore. The contest both at the old and new mill A\'as> 
very sharp, and lasted for a considerable time. Mackinzie says the 
loss on the Derry side was but two men killed and eight or ten, 
wounded ; but Capt. Ash alleges that Cornet Brown and three others’ 
were killed ; the loss on the enemy’s side Avas not ascertained. In the 
Armagh manuscript this engagement is called the battle of Elah, and 
the author thus celebrates those who distinguished themselves in it l 

) 4 , \ 

“ Against the weakest side our Gen’ral saw. 

Their greatest force the Irish army draw; 

Which to prevent, with equal ardor he 
Sprung forth at morn to fight the enemy 
Near Elaii in the parks. Murray came on, 

The Irishmen were led by Hamilton ; 

Where they continued fighting till ’twas nocn, 

When we were flank’d by th’ enemy’s dragoon. 

I'ive hundred men cur open flank secure. 

Bed on by Taylor, Saunderson, and Moore. 

The enemy stood boldly to the fight, 

But Murray quickly put them all to flight. 

Berwick and Pontes, each receiv’d a sear, 


67 


From valiant Murray and the brave Dunbar. 

Fold Major Bull did wonders in that fight, 

For he brought back the Irish on the right. 

Crofton and Bashford did much honour gain, 

^ O < 

By Captain Noble multitudes were slain. 

From Lissnaskea, Fermanagh’s pride, he came, 

But now lie’s Major Noble of the same. 

Cairnes in our centre, standing like a rock, 
Undauntedly repell’d each hostile shock ; 

Like Spartan heroes firm together clos’d, 
lie and his friends their enemies oppos’d. 

Lieutenant Lindsay, Lord Donrode’s brave son. 
Fresh honour in this hot engagement won. 

Brave Captain Barrel from Urney, near Strabane, 
Gain’d the renowmof an heroic man. 

Here Tillilagati, from renown’d Tyrone, 

To glory sent I'.cr gallant Saunderson. 

The valiant Moore of Augher, with great might. 
Cut all before him in this bloody light. 

Lieutenant Cooke repuls’d the enemy, 

And forc’d their bravest warriors to fly. 

Lord Abercorn left both boots and horse. 

And fled without his cloak, with all his force. 

Then in a trice our foes we soundly beat. 

And to their camp compel them to retreat. 

We burn’d their stores in El ah without pity. 

And turn’d back to march into the city. 

When we went forth we carefully had sent 
Most of our horse, and of foot a regiment. 

To watch the camp by gallant Ramsay kept. 

Lest he our marching home should intercept. 

But Col'nel Parker, odious was his crime, 

Had them commanded off before that time ; 

When Ramsay boldly, with his foot and horse. 

Came quickly up to intercept our course. 

This great surprise did a our spirits damp, 

We fear’d our men were slain round Ramsay’s camp. 
But Col’nel Murray and brave Aubery, 

Oppos’d the foe and forc’d them back to fly, 

Till all our heroes cover’d with renown, 

From tills brisk fight got safely into town. 

Barker and iiair.ill to our aid both run. 

With Wig-ton pushing on a loaded gun ; 

But their assistance came to us too late, 

For Ramsay then had forc’d us to retreat. 

Barker considered it but policy. 

To fly that evening to the enemy ; 

His Coleraine regiment brave Lance obtain’d, 

And in our service lasting glory gain’d.” 


Mackinzie states in corroboration of the foregoing statement of 
Barker's treachery, that this officer was sent out with a rear guard 
of infantry, to cover the retreat of those who had sallied out with 
Murray this day, and that at the moment when the citizens from the 
walls saw a body of the enemy advance to intercept their return, he 

Ik 


G8 


appeared so slow and negligent in the discharge of Ids important on¬ 
ly, as to expose tlie returning victors to imminent danger. lie was 
threatened with a court martial for this misconduct, upon which he 
left the city in the night and deserted to the enemy. 

It was not without great address mid considerable difficulty, even 
Under their present circumstances, lhatthe harmony necessary for tlie 
preservation of all descriptions of Protestants was preserved among 
tlie me; fibers of the Established Church and tlie various denomina¬ 
tions of Dissenters at this time in Londonderry. The Episcopal 
Clergy had ; -iffiered heavily from tlie Presbyterians in Scotland, tlie 
persecution there was nearly at its height at this time, and even Wil¬ 
liam, who established Presbyterianism on the ruins of their Church, 
afterwards found it necessary to open an inlet and shelter for some of 
them, by translating Dr. Alexander CairncroSs from the Archbishop¬ 
ric of Glasgow to the See of Raphoe, in tlie neighbourhood of Lon¬ 
donderry. 

In the two preceding reigns Lord Dundee, Captain Creighton, 
and others, had made very severe retaliations on the Covenanters, so 
that both parties were under strong and unhappy temptations to dis¬ 
like each other, when they found it necessary at this time to unite for 
their common preservation. This feeling was nearly brought into fatal 
operation on one or two occasions during the earlier part of the Siege. 
On one of these, a Mr. Ilewson stepped forward, and declared that 
no man was worthy to fight for the Protestant Religion who would 
not take the solemn league and covenant ; and on another, the con¬ 
formists and non-conformists were drawn up in the Diamond to fight 
for tlie Cathedral Church. Hewsons insane proposal, however, was 
treated with merited neglect, and the dispute about the Cathedral was 
soon settled by the conformist's, who were heretofore, in undisturbed 
possession of it, consenting that the others should have the use of it 
for one half of the Lord’s (lay, and also on every Thursday during tlie 
Siege. The non-conformists had also meetings in different parts of 
the City, and all the congregations in the Church and out of it, made 
Very considerable contributions after divine service for the relief of tlie 
sick and wounded soldiers, of whom the greatest care was taken. The 
clergy and ministers of all denominations were indeed equally careful 
of their people, exhibiting an example of moderation and kindness 
towards each other, worthy of imitation at all times, but indispensa¬ 
ble to their common safety on this trying occasion. They enjoined 
their respective congregations to forget their distinctions, and join as 
one man in defence of the Protestant Religion, reminding them 
of their perilous situation: they pointed to the water which enclosed 
them on the one side, and to the camp and batteries of twenty thou¬ 
sand enemies surrounding them in every other direction. They then 
betook themselves to their several devotions, recommending their sa*» 
<**ed cause to the care of the Almighty God. 


Vv aiker s reflections on the nineteenth of ibis eventful month ar& 

characteristic of the circumstances of the city at the time, and so 
honourable to himself as a divine and a writer, that they cannot bo 
emitted here. It did, says lie, “ beget amongst us some disorder 
.and confusion, when we looked about us and saw what we were do- 
int^; our enemies all about us, and our friends running away from us; 
a garrison we had, composed of a number of poor people, frightened 
from their own homes, and seemingly more tit to hide themselves than 
to lace ail enemy. When we considered that we had no persons of 
experience in war amongst us, and those very persons that were scut 
to assist us, had so little confidence in the place, that they no sooner 
«aw it than they thought fit to leave it; that we had hut few horse to 
pily out with, and no forage; no engineers to instruct us in our 
.works, no fire-works, not as much as a hand grenade to annoy the 
enemy ; not a gun wefi mounted in the whole town ; that we had so 
many mouths to feed, and not above ten days provisions for them, 
in the opinion of our former governors ; that every day several left us 
and gave constant intelligence to the enemy; that they had so many 
opportunities to divide us, and so often endeavoured to do it, and to 
betray the governors ; that they were so numerous, so powerful, and 
so well appointed an army, that in all human probability we could not 
think ourselves in less danger than the Israelites at the Red Sea.—- 
When we considered all this, it was obvious enough what a danger¬ 
ous undertaking we had ventured upon ; but the resolution and cou¬ 
rage of oar people, and the necessity we were under, and the great 
confidence and dependence among us on God Almighty, that he 
would take care of us and preserve us, made us overlook ail those 
difficulties. And God iva, pleased to make us the happy instruments 
of preserving this place, and to him we give the glory; and no one 
need go about to undervalue or lessen those he was pleased to choose 
for so great a work ; we do allow ourselves to he as unfit as they cart 
make us, and that god lms only glorified iiimselj? in working so 
great a wonder with his own right band and his holy arm, getting to 
himself the victory,” 

Tlie governors, Baker and Walker, now examined the stores, con¬ 
tinuing the old keepers of them in their places for some time, until 
on their contents being much diminished they were all put into one 
house, which was carefully kept by Mr. John Harvey and his brother 
Samuel, during the whole time of the siege. Persons were also ap¬ 
pointed to search all cellars and other private stores, from which they 
brought to the common stock a very considerable addition, which had 
been brought into the city by private gentlemen and others who had 
taken refuge in it. 

On this twenty-fifth of April, the Rev. Andrew Hamihon, with 
Mr. Anthony Dobbin, a justice of the peace, resident intro neigh¬ 
bourhood of Deny, went to the Irish camp at thq hour of nine or 


70 


fen o’clock in the morning. At that time a party of the besieged 
had sallied from the city, and were skirmishing with some part of the 
besieging army. These gentlemen had an errand from Enniskillen to 
General Hamilton, who being engaged with the troops that were 
fighting, did not return for a considerable time. While they waited 
for him, they heard several shots going off within a short distance 
behind them, and enquiring the cause, were told by a soldier that there 
was good sport, for the men had got hold of an English or Scotch 
witch, who had attempted to destroy their horses by enchantment, 
and had been caught in the act of gathering their dung for that pur¬ 
pose. Mr. Hamilton entreated some of the Irish officers with whom 
lie was acquainted to save the unfortunate woman’s life. Mr. Dobbin 
and he them went with them towards the place from which the noise 
of the firing came, and as they got within twenty or thirty yards of 
it, they saw a woman at least seventy years of age, sitting with her 
breast laid bare, and before they had time to interfere for her pro¬ 
tection, one of the soldiers came up to her, held the muzzle of his 
musquet close to her breast, and shot her dead. Being bad marks¬ 
men, they had been firing at ber from some little distance, and none 
of their former shots bad the desired effect, though she was wounded 
in several places. An army composed of such men as this, could not 
prove ultimately successful over an intelligent and humane enemy, let 
their numerical superiority be ever so great, and so the event of this 
Bummer’s campaign fully proved. It appeared, on enquiry, that this 
poor victim of superstition and cruelty, who lived near Deny, had 
been robbed of ber substance, and hearing that the Irish camp was 
full of provisions, and that the officers and soldiers were very civil to 
ail who went to them, she had gone there that morning to beg a little 
food among the tents, and a man passing bv her with a load of oatmeal 
thrown across his horse, the sack burst and some of its contents falling 
upon horse dung, after the man had gathered up asmueh as he thought 
fit, the wretched woman went forward and was taking the dung out 
of the dirty meal that remained on the road, when a fellow who saw 
ber do so called out that she was a witch gathering their horses dung 
that the Derry-men might get the better of them ; upon which a 
crowd gathered about her and used her in the cruel manner above re¬ 
lated. It is a very common opinion among the Irish, that the excre¬ 
ments of any animal being burned, a mortal dysentery will ensue to 
the body from which they have been discharged ; and, in this way did 
the superstitious savage imagine that a decrepid old woman could dis¬ 
mount a regiment of cavalry, and turn the fate of a battle. 

On the night of the twenty-sixth the bombs played hotly on the city, 
with little intermission, from the setting of the sun until morning. 
This idght was one of intense suffering; terror prevailed in all direc¬ 
tions, except in the hearts of the intrepid heroes under arms. The 
shrieks of women and children formed a terrific contrast with the 


/ 


71 


thunder of the artillery, and the crash of walls and houses thrown 
down by the shells. One of the victims of this night’s cannonade 
Was Mrs. Susannah Holding, a gentlewoman aged eighty years, who 
was killed in Mr. Long’s house, where many other persons were 
wounded. 

About the twenty-seventh Captain Darcy, who had been brought 
from Scotland by Captain James Hamilton, and left prisoner in Der¬ 
ry on a charge of having deserted King William’s service in England, 
got a pass from the Governor, and left the city with his horse and 
arms. He had bought some horses from Lieutenant-Colonel Whitney, 
which were said not to have belonged to that gentleman, who was tri¬ 
ed for this and other misdemeanors, and being found guilty of being 
no friend to the garrison, was committed to prison, where he was 
kept during the remainder of the siege. Captain Monro succeeded 
to the command of his regiment. That of Coleraine, from which 
Paiker had deserted, was given to Captain Lance. 

The regiments were now regulated as they remained during tho 
siege ; they were seven in linmber, six of infantry and one of cavalry. 
Mitchelburn’s consisted of seventeen companies ; Walker’s of four¬ 
teen ; Monro’s and Crofton’s of twelve each ; Lance’s of thirteen and 
Hummel's of fifteen. Colonel Murray’s regiment of horse consisted of 
eight troops. Besides these regimented men, there were several volun¬ 
teers in the city who did good service, as Captains Joseph Johnston, 
William Crooke, Mr. David Kennedy, and many others, who were 
frequently out upon service. Crooke’s leg was broke by a piece of a 
bomb, which caused his death. 

On the twenty-eighth the besieged sallied out and killed several 
of the enemy at Pennyburn-mill, hut were forced by a body of horse 
to retreat with the loss of two men killed, and eight or ten wounded. 
Admiral Herbert being at. this time on the South coast of Ireland, 
discovered the French fleet on the twenty-ninth of this month, and 
the next day received intelligence of their having gone to Baltimore, 
being in number forty sail; but on pursuing them, the scouts disco¬ 
vered that they had got into Bantry-bay. The English Admiral lay 
off the bay all night, and next morning stood in, when he found the 
enemy at anchor. They soon, however, got under sail, and bore 
down upon him in a line composed of twenty-eight men of war and 
five fire-ships. When they came within musquet-shet of the De¬ 
fence, which led the van, the French Admiral put out the signal of 
battle, which was begun by their firing their great and small shot at 
the English ships as they came into the line. After several ineffec¬ 
tual attempts to engage the enemy closer, Admiral Herbert finding 
his fleet in a disadvantageous situation, put off to sea, as well to get 
his ships into a line as to gain the wind of the enemy, hut he found 
them so cautious in bearing down, that he could not get an epportu.- 


72 


ttity to accomplish his purpose, and so continued battering upon a 
stretch till five o’clock in the afternoon, when the French Admiral 
stood into the bay. Admiral Herbert’s ship and some others being 
severely disabled in their rigging, could not follow them, but con¬ 
tinued for a short time after before the bay, ami gave the enemy a 
«hot at parting. In this action, which the French reckoned a victory, 
Captain George Aylmer, of the Portland, with one Lieutenant and 
ninety-four seamen were killed, the number of the wounded amount¬ 
ed to two hundred and fifty. Admiral Herbert, however, sustained 
no other loss, and got safe with his fleet into Plymouth a week after¬ 
wards. It seems unaccountable that it did not occur to the French 
Admiral, now that the coast was clear for him, to bring his fleet round 
to Lougb-Swiliy or Lough-Foyle, rather than expose the arms, am¬ 
munition, and military stores it contained, to the delay and the dan¬ 
gers of a land-carriage from Cork to Londonderry, by wretched roads 
and many hostile tracts of country. But James's counsels appear to 
have been such as to insure liis final defeat ; bis intelligence was 
usually false or exaggerated, and the measures he adopted frequently 
•calculated to disgust even bis friends. His subserviency to the French 
Ambassador was apparent, and a report went forth at this time very 
touch to bis prejudice, that be bad agreed to put Ireland into the 
hands of Louis, to become a province of France, in return for tlia 
assistance given him to recover the rest of Lis dominions. 


On the last day of April the street on the Ship-quay side of the 
Diamond of Londonderry was barricadoed, between Cunningham's 
and Boyd’s comers, with timber, stones, and rubbish, to secure the 
market-house from the enemy’s cannon ; and at the same time a shot 
from one cf the bastions killed the chief gunner of the Irish army 
and broke one of his pieces of cannon. About this time Lieutenant- 
Colonel Lloyd, by order of the Governor of Enniskillen, took a party 
of horse and foot from that town towards Omagh, where the Irish 
had a garrison. This post was too strong to warrant liis making any 
attempt against it, but he drove all the cattle in the neighbourhood 
of it before him to Augher, where the enemy had another garrison 

in the castle, which they abandoned before he had arrived at it._ 

To prevent their repossessing themselves of this strong hold, on liis 
departure he burned it to the ground, and defaced the fortifications 
about it. He then proceeded into the county of Monaghan, and re¬ 
turned to Enniskillen with a very great prey of cows and sheep, 
which proved a most seasonable relief to the poor people in and about 
that town; for on the return of that party a good milch cow mHit 
have been bought from the soldiers for half-a-crown, and a dry cow 
or an.ox cheaper. Towards the end of this month some choice troops 
of horse and companies of foot, reinforced the Enniskilleners from 
BalJyshanr.on. They bad formed part of Lord Kingston’s troops, and 
had marched with him from Sligo, when, by Lundy's orders, that 


rr ci 

* O 


Nobleman lad Ms army into the county of Donegal. The Governor 
of Enniskillen then erected a fort on the common hill near tho stone- 
bridge, at Ills own expense, and it afterwards proved to be a great 
strength and protection to the town. 

A circumstance is mentioned in the poem found at Armagh, respect¬ 
ing the father of Colonel Murray, which, “ mutalis mutandis ,” may 
be related with propriety in a work which aims at giving a vivid repre¬ 
sentation of the varied scenes of this interesting period of Irish His¬ 
tory:— 

tl General Hamilton takes Colonel il lurraijs aged Father prisoner , and 
sends him to move his son to quit the town." 

“ Now Hamilton had got intelligence 

That Murray’s father liv’d not far from hence, 

Ag’d above eighty years, for him he sent 
And brought the old man captive to his tent. 

Pray said tiie .Sage, your business with me tell ? 

Your son said he, Sir, ventures to rebel 
Against his King. IIe holds that city out. 

Him you may counsel better without doubt. 

On yon tall gibbet rising to the sky, 

Your hones shall hang if he does not comply, 

And yield the town—go tell him so or die ; 

And here you must your sacred honour pawn. 

To bring his answer e’er to-morrow’s dawn. 

Old Murray answers, he will not disown 
His due allegiance to King William’s throne ; 

But, as I must obey you, I will try 
If with such cruel terms he will comply: 

I found rav son. Sir, from his early youth 
A paragon of steadiness and truth ; 

A scion worthy of his ancient line, 

Respecting law, both human and divine, 

Form’d, mind and body, for some great design. 

In haste the vet’ran’s guarded to the town, 

And meets his son then cever’d with renown ; 

As on tiie street the youthful hero stood, 

Ilis steel still reeking with the Frenchman’s blood. 

Son, said the Sire, this Bible in my hand 
Must give due sanction to my last command ; 

Swear now, I charge you, that in town or field 
To James’s power you will never yield ; 

That for our faith you’ll spend your latest breath, 

And choose with me sweet liberty or death. 

Father, said Murray, as he drop’d a tear, 

That voice I love so dearly wounds my ear, 

Imputing treachery or slavish fear. 

The deeds I do, I cannot stoop to tell, 

But all iny gallant friends here know me tvell; 

Why then through dangers have you made such speed, 

To give me counsel which I do not need. 

Adam, said he, I never could have meant 
Such imputation, but I have beep sent 





By Hamilton, to tell you I must die, If 

Unless with his commands you now comply, 

Give up the town or from its ramparts fiy. 3 
But now my long lov’d son, my darling child, 
Who on my knee so oft have sweetly smil’d. 
Cheering a father’s and a mother’s heart, 

I’ve made my last request and I depart; 
Hamilcar’s task was mine, and now I go 
To meet like Regulus an angry foe, 
lie may command my instant execution, 

But Murray’s blood will seal the revolution. 

In such a case 1 could die ten times o’er, 

.And count it gain to bleed at eighty four. 

Stay, said a voice, stay Murray with your son. 
His race of glory is but just begun ; 

Maumont’s career arrested by his steel, 

His sword’s sharp edge this Hamilton shall feel. 
Ill fare the man whose cunning could engage 
In such a task your venerable age. 

No, no, said he, not thus is glory won, 

My word is pledg’d, a soldier’s course I run, 
Take honour from me and my life is done.” 

Then peals of thund’ring cannon rend the air. 
And warlike trumpets from the city bear 
Defiance to the foe’s detested arts, 

As for the camp the veteran departs. 

The gallant Hamilton forgives the fraud. 

If such it was, and ventures to applaud 
Without reserve, a more than Spartan deed 
Which well became the Murrays of the Tweed j 
From Philiphaugh this hero’s fathers came, 

A line long known in rolls of Scottish fame. 

No longer forc’d through hostile bands to roam, 
A guard of honour guides the old man home ; 
Where he was suffer’d unuisturb’d to dwell, 
Though by his son the Irish army fell.” 


i 

l 


The reader will, no doubt, forgive the liberty here taken with the 
coarse original of the foregoing lines, which have been rendered into 
intelligible language, as the tales of Chaucer and satires of Dr. Donne 

O C-' o' 

have been translated by Pope. 

On the first day of May a cannon-ball fell among a company of foot 
who were inarching up Ship-quay-street, and wounded two men. A 
shell also fell where Colonel Mitchelburn’s men were exercising in the 
Bog-side, and killed one man, who remained on his feet till it burst. 
The rest threw themselves down on the ground, by which means they 
escaped unhurt. 


On the second of this month the Irish garrison in Omagh sent two 
men into the parish of Kilskerry, within five miles of Enniskillen* 
who in the night stole away about twenty or thirty cows. In the 
morning the owners missing their cows, and seeing their track on the 
/o?.d toward* Omagh, sent some of their neighbours in quest of them- 


75 


Accordingly, eight of them who undertook this task, overtook th» 
cattle within a few miles of Omagh ; but the thieves, unluckily escap¬ 
ing, tied into the garrison and gave the alarm there. Before the Kils- 
kerry-rnen laid got Irak way on their return home, they were overta¬ 
ken by twenty-four well mounted dragoons from Omagh ; the poor 
men being eight in number, had hut had horses and few arms. Two 
of them, on the approach of the dragoons, left their horses and escap¬ 
ed into a hog; the other five, thinking they need fear no injury, for 
having taken back their own cattle, submitted and had quarter given, 
to them, T he dragoons, leaving a guard with the five prisoners, fol¬ 
lowed the other three into the bog, but being unable to overtake them, 
returned back to those they had left on the road, and after carrying 
them a little way back with them, barbarously murdered them all, 
cutting them so in the face with their swords, that their friends scarce 
knew one of them when they found them. This was the usual quar¬ 
ter given by the Irish soldiers to the prisoners who submitted to them, 
which was the principal cause of the obstinate defence both of Lon¬ 
donderry and Enniskillen. Bedew, the Governor of Omagh, sent an 
express on the morning after this cruel murder to General Hamilton, 
before Derry, acquainting him that a party of his garrison had killed 
above one hundred of the Enniskilleners, calling etfery man twenty; 
which news, in a dearth of better, went through the whole of the 
Irish camp, and caused great joy there. Richard Burton says, in his 
history of the Kingdom of Ireland, (page 80) that some of Galmoy’s 
dragoons, in the course o( this unsuccessful campaign against the Pro¬ 
testants, caused two gentlemen, who had taken arms under Colonel 
Saunderson, to be hanged on a sign-post at Belnahatty, and their head* 
being cut off, the horrid scene at Belturbet was a second time exhi¬ 
bited by their kicking the heads about the streets like foot-balls. 


About the beginning of this month Colonel Mitchelburn was suspect¬ 
ed by Governor Baker and the garrison. The latter, after a personal 
scuffle with him, confined him to bis chamber, and he continued for 
some time a prisoner, but he never was tried by a council of war. At 
this time Baker, fearing lest some treacherous persons within the city 
should work mines in the cellars near the walls, took with him an ac¬ 
tive and zealous defender of the city, Mr. William Macky, and search¬ 
ed all the under-ground apartments adjoining to (he walls, under pre¬ 
tence of examining the provisions, but they found nothing to justify 
their apprehensions. On the second of this month, fourteen or 
fifteen cannon-shots were fired against the city, but none of them 
did any damage, "three of them struck tho market-house, and one 
against the town clock; they knocked down some slates and rubbish, 
but did no farther injury. 


On the third there were nine pieces of cannon discharged against 
the city in the forenoon, and two in the afternoon, by which there 
were only two men wounded ; one lost a leg and another an arm.— 

L 


76 


During tlie night of this (lay some of the enemy came to the Bog-shtd? 
and fired at tne centinels on the wall, which the guard at Butchery- 
pate returned with interest, but no harm was done on either side.— 
Major Fitzsimmons'^ company were stationed on that part of the wall 
this night. On the fourth of May Captain Fd!iot, Governor of Bal- 
lyshannon, sent an express to Enniskillen, stating that a considerable 
body of men had arrived therefrom Connaught, to besiege that place. 
He sent the summons ho had got, and prayed for a speedy relief, 

which was sent to him immediately afterwards. 

• 

The enemy’s camp was now every day moving nearer to the city 
of Londonderry, and few days passed without vigorous sallies from the 
gates. The parties who went out were commanded by one or more of 
the following 'distinguished officers : Colonel Murray, Captains No¬ 
lle, Dunbar, Adams, Wilson, Hamilton, Beatty, Saundersoris senr. 
and junr., Shaw, W right, M‘Cormick, Bashford and Cunningham. 
Gr< rvi< o rendered to the city by Major Alex. Stewart, 

Major John Dobbins, and Lieuts. Dunlop aiid Maghlin. Some of 
these went out with small parties of gentlemen volunteers, and some¬ 
times of private soldiers, and they seldom returned without doing 
execution on the enemy, or bringing in some prey. Captain Noble 
and others found several letters in the pockets of the slain, giving 
some intelligence,' particularly respecting the surrender of Culm ore. 
it appeared by them that Lundy as he passed, sent a message to the 
garrison that Londonderry had surrendered ; they had but little 
ammunition at the time, and had lost eight of their guns, which Can- 
tain Jem met, by order of the false Governor, had sent into the city, 
and this, it was stated, inclined them to surrender. 

In the night of the fifth the besiegers drew a trench across tlie 
wind-mill-hill, from the bog to the river, and there began to erect a 
battery for the purpose of annoying the town walls, which were much 
too strong for the guns against them. Tlie Derry-men, with equal 
spirit and good humour, advised the men who worked in this trench 
and battery, to save themselves the trouble, labour, and expense, of 
such an undertalcing, offering to open a wider passage for them thro’ 
the gates than their cannon could make in the walls, at any time they 
should feel disposed to try their fortune in the city. A little after 
midnight, provoked perhaps by those taunts, Brigadier-General Ramsay 
came to the wind-mill, and dislodging the out-guards there, posses s¬ 
ed himself of the place, and before sun-rise had the works they had 
begun in the evening completed to the water side. The guard which 
had hee'n driven from the wind-mill retired to the half-moon on the 
outside of the Bisbop’s-gate, and those who had driven them in in¬ 
trenched themselves on the ground they had gained, by making a 
strong double ditch across the high road near Robert Harvey's house. 
This ditch was levelled upon fifteen of their dead bodies next day. 




77 

At an early hour of Monday the sixth of May, the besieged fear- 
ini>- that, the battery erected near the wind-mill might injure that part 
in the town nearest to it, resolved to demolish it, and at the same 
moment a great number of the enemy coming near the town wall, 
mod at the guard.s, which alarmed the garrison. "Walker, apprehen¬ 
sive, that an escalade, which had often been threatened, was now 
about to he attempted, instantly drew out a detachment of ten men 
trom each company, arid after putting them into the best order their 
impatience allowed, sallied out of the Ferry quay- rate at their head, in 
the deepest silence, at the hour of four o'clock in the morning.—. 
Mackinzie assigns this command to Baker, hut Ash, more cor¬ 
rectly it is probable than either, says that the sally was commanded 
by both of the governors, whose efforts on that occasion had been as 
diligent as they proved succesful. At the moment when one body of 
the citizens had proceeded out at Ferryquay-gate, another burst forth 
from the Bishop’s-gate, and joining their force advanced impetuously 
on the enemy. Borne of them drove the Irish dragoons from the 
hedges, while others took possession of their trenches. The Derry- 
men pur-ued t he retiring foe so closely, that it soon came to what has 
been termed club musquet. The dragoons and infantry took flight in 
great confusion. Ramsay, in vain endeavouring to rally them, was 
killed upon the spot, with many other officers ; the pursuit was con¬ 
tinued beyond all the ditches to the top of the hill. The ground 
contended for was gained by the victors, with four or five stand of 
colours, several drums, fire-arms, spades, shovels, and pick-axes, 
with some ammunition, and the plunder of the dead. The enemy- 
lost Brigadier-General Ramsay, Captains Fleming, Fox, and Barn¬ 
well, with Lieutenants Kelly and Welsh, and Ensigns Barnwell and 
Kadell killed. The prisoners were Lord Netterville, Sir Garret Ayl¬ 
mer, Lieut.-Coloncl Talbot, Lieut, and Adjutant Newcomen. Colonel 
Gordon O’Neil] was wounded in the thigh. Lord Netterville and Sir 
Garret Aylmer were badly wounded ; they were treated with kind¬ 
ness and the respect due to their rank, being confined in a private 
house, that of Mr. Thomas Moore, and a guard placed over them. 
The Irish lost in this rout, as it may be termed, about two hundred 
men killed, many of them shot in the face, fore-head and breast, over 
their own lines, as they were firing with little or no effect, upon then- 
more steady and skilful opponents. Walker says that no less than 
five hundred of them were wounded, three hundred of whom died 
afterwards of their wounds. On the Derry side, some few were 
wounded, and but three or four privates killed. Towards the end of 
the skirmish some of the garrison went out and post D hhemselves 
very judiciously between the wind-mill and the strand, Daring the 
Irish, who were in great numbers on the U p of the hid above the 
river side, should rally again and get between their pursuers and the 
city. Several of these men lined the ditches very near the enemy, to 
prevent them from coming down, but they shewed no disposition to 


do so. The whole affair was over at noon, and In the evening tfia 
Governors sent a drum to General Hamilton, desiring lie would bury 
his dead. This was done the next day in a very negligent manner, the 
soldiers who were sent to perform this duty scarcely covering the bo¬ 
dies with earth. General Ramsay was interred at the Long-Tower, 
much lamented by all who knew him. He was reckoned the most 
efficient officer in the Irish army, with the exception of General Ha¬ 
milton. In the course of this day Quarter-Master Murdagh was kill¬ 
ed by a shot in the fore-head at the Church bastion. 

The author of ike poem found at Armagh thus describes this bat¬ 
tle of Wmd-mill-hill :— 

<i Now gallant Ramsay, in a strong array 

Entrench’d five thousand men J>y break of day, 

On 'Wind-mill-bill, and threaten’d instant fate 
To all who oar’d to open JBishop’s-gate. 

To check this force, our Governors command. 

And from the town lead forth a gallant band. 

Dunbar and Bad.ford round by the steep way, ) 

Which from the city leads to Ferry-quay, v 

Hush to the trenches, and the Irish slay. ^ 

"Whilst Wilson, Fleming, Gunter, and brave Moore, 

Out-flank their foe-men and the day secure. 

Forbes like thunder towards the trenches flew, 

And with his sword a crowd of foe-men slew. 

In that attack was valiant Ramsay slain, 

Of full five thousand scarcely half remain. 

Dobbin as Major some bold heroes led, 

Before whose swords the frighted Irish fled. 

From trench to trench did Pogue undaunted fly, 

And with his sword cut down the enemy. 

Ford Netterville a prisoner was made, 

Proud Talbot’s capture Hamilton dismay’d. 

Sir Garret Aylmer, with a bleeding wound. 

Unable to resist or run was found. 

At length when wearied were the gallant foot. 

Our horsemen came and made a hot pursuit j 
To Ballymagrorty we the foe pursue. 

And all along the brow their forces slew. 

Murdagh, our trusty Quarter-master’s slain, 

Who in all actions did great honour gain ; 

Ready to go on each forlorn command, 

Full six or seven men he could withstand. 

And though he’s gone, his fame shall never die, 

While Derry’s tale is told in poetry. 

Their magazine we forc’d them to destroy, 

They blew it up, we heard the sound with joy. 

When rich in spoil, and cover’d with renown. 

We march triumphant to cur happy town. 

King William’s welcome men and maidens sing, 

Shouts rend the clouds, and joy-bells sweetly ring.” 

r !,e historical drama also gives an interesting account of this day's 
l .ring the Irish forces defeated to have been Sir Maurice Eus- 


face’s fusileers, with the regiments of foot commanded by Colonel* 
Butler and O’Neil), supported by Lord Galmoy’s horse. 

SCENE CHANGES TO THE FRENCH CAMP. 

Enter Hamilton , Sheldon , and IVaucop. 

“ ^ 011 talked of trenches, what signified trenches when the enemy flanked 
Its ? Indeed had we trenches on the flanks that would have been some¬ 
thing ; for when the rebels came upon us with two bodies of men, and charged 
our r <ght and left, we were then obliged to quit our trenches, and draw into a 
body ; we lay open then to their guns from the walls, which made lanes through 
our men.” ° 

Enter an Officer, 

OJJiccr —“ The fight seems dubious ; great opposition upon both sides.” 

Enter another Officer, 

Officer —“ Our men fall extremely fast; what the rebels want in skill they 
Lave in courage.” 3 

Enter a third OJJiccr. 

. Officer —“ Our men give ground, and unless you appear among them, the 
victory will fall to the rebel side.” 

Hamilton —“ That shall not be wanting.” 

SCENE CHANGES TO LONDONDERRY. 

Enter Governor Baker , Colonel Campbell , and the Totem-Major. 

Hake?' — “ The day is ours, the enemy is fled.” 

Campbell —“ Murray is in iiot pursuit with his cavalry, but where is Mitchel- 
bu?:n ?” 

Town Major— u He will be here presently, he only staid to give Murray the 
necessary orders, how far he should pursue the enemy.” 

Enter Mitclielburn and Walker. 

Mitchelburn —“ I think between our right and left we peppered them off.” 

Baker —“ They will hardly come to the 'Wind-mil 1-these two days again.” 

Mitchelburn —“ That regiment of Sir Maurice Eustace’s, with their caps, 
stood stiffly to their business, but when they saw me lead up my last reserve of 
five hundred men, they took to their heels. How like stags they bounded over 
the ditches, and our men like true bred beagles scoured after them in full cry.” 

A great shout within. 

Make room for my Lord Netterville.” 

His Lordship enters , two soldiers supporting him ; three of his 
fingers cut efif, and a wound in his j'ace; he appears a lusty fat man; 
they set him down in a chair. 

Baker —“ Who Sir, are you ?” 

Nettci'ville —“ The unfortunate Lord Netterville.” 

linker —■“ What! My Lord Netterville ? 

Netterville—“ So they call me; I am three score and ten, and yet must turn 
soldier in my old age; my spirits faint, pray let me lie down.” 

Walker —“ Get a surgeon immediately, his Lordship is fainting; bring a glass 
of sack quickly.”— (Sack brought. J 


33aktr —My service to your Lordship.” 

Nettervil’e—“ I thank you Sir.— {He takes the mne.J—- Pray dome the farouc 
to let me lie down some where.” 

Baker —“ A our Lordship s’:;. 1 ! have a good room, an aired bed, and excellent 
quarters .”—( Exit Lord. JV< La idle and his attendants. ) 

Enter serjeants , bringing in Colonel Talbot on a hand-barrow 
covered with blood. After him Sir Garret Aylmer is brought in by 
the soldiers and laid on the stage ; Talbot is carried off. 

Baker —“ Pray who is that on the hand-barrow.” 

Walker —“ It is Colonel Talbot, a near relation to Tyrconnel; he has been 
usually called wicked Will Talbot.” 

Baker — “ He was blessed Will, that the soldiers did not knock him on the 
head ; I wish we had his cousin Tyrconnel in his room.” 

Town Major —“ As I and some others were viewing the dead bodies, \ve saw 
that cf Brigadier-General Ramsay among them, the commander of the grand 
attack. We found Hamilton’s order iir his pocket-book: the word was ‘HO 
QUART Ell!' ” 

Baker —“ Let a parley be beat, that they may come and bury their dead.”— 
(Exit Town-Major.) 


SCENE CHANGES TO THE IRISH CAMP. 

Enter Hamilton, Dorrington, and Sheldon. 

Hamilton —•* ’Tis yet uncertain how many principal officers are lost in this 
unfortunate enterprise, neither is it known whether the rebels gave quarter or 
net.” 

Dorrington—' 1 It is judged by all that our loss is very considerable.” 

Sheldon —It would make one’s heart bleed to see how many cart-loads cf 
wounded are going oil' to St. Johnstown.” 

Enter an Officer. 

Officer —Sad news! sad news ! Brigadier-General Ramsay is killed.” 
liamUiwn —« It grieves my heart! our great Maumont at’ Pennyburn-mill 
and Ramsay at the Wind-mill. Indeed, a great loss !” 

Enter an Express from Dublin to General Hamilton , which he 

reads :— 


„ « Sm—The King is much dissatisfied with your slow proceedings, the great 
defeat you have met with, and the loss of so many .considerable men. Marshal 
Rosen is marching to besiege Enniskillen with ’ten thousand men, and then 
yance to join you. His Maj atient till the town of London- 

Di.itr.Y is reduced ; it stops ail his measures and utterly ruins his cause Th a 
eight hundred men sent to Loud Dcxjdjsk are safely .'.rived in the Highlands 
of Scotland. Xmunetjkgh Castle is stoutly defended by the Duke of Gor¬ 
don.—i am well, “ MEI EO l lT ” 

. amilton —“ ramine and plague light upon this perverse town of Derry » 
The holders of it persist and glory in their wickedness, pride, and rebellion* 
r i ;:>y are even building two privateers, which I fear will be' launched in two or 
tl-ce days, w hich will harrass and fatigue our men, especially those on the river 
side. I have m thing to say in answer to this express, but that there are fifty or 

6iSt ? £ ; 'P s discovered at sea, making for this harbour, which, no question, is for 
the relief of the rebels.” 

On the night of the defeat of the Irish at Wind-miU-hiU, the Go- 


or Enniskillen sent to all the garrisons under Ins command, 
ordering them to send him speedily all the armed men they could 
spare ; and the next day, May the seventh, lie sent Colonel Lloyd 
Avilh about twelve companies of infantry and some troops of horse to¬ 
wards Ballyshannon. They met the enemy’s horse near Belleek, a 
■village three miles nearer to Ennsikillcn than Ballyshannon, where 
they soon put them to the rout, ki'ring about one hundred and twen¬ 
ty of them, and taking* about half that number prisoners. Ail the 
Irish infantry fled towards Sligo, and escaped, except a few who were 
taken in the Fish Island, near Ballyshannon, with their Captain, one 
M‘Donagh, a Counsellor at Law, commonly known by the name of 
blind IvPDonagh. The victors got two small pieces of cannon, se¬ 
veral serviceable horses, and some good arms. Thus was Ballyshan- 
non relieved by the Enniskilleners, whose first time it was to encoun¬ 
ter the enemy in the field with horse and foot. Their success in the 
beginning of such undertakings, encouraged them very much, and 
they returned to their quarters without losing one man. Immediately 
after this an express was sent to them from Colonel Sarsfield, propos¬ 
ing an exchange of some prisoners which the Irish had at Gal wav 
and Ballinrohe, for those who had been taken at Ballyshannon. The 
Governor, recollecting how Lord Galmoy had behaved, on a similar 
occasion, at Belturbet, 'desired Sarsfield to send him the names of 
the prisoners he would exchange for those of Enniskillen. Sarsfield 
delayed sending* an answer for a month, and in the mean time, he or¬ 
dered all the Protestants in the Province of Connaught, notwith¬ 
standing the protection they had got from him and other officers, to 
be put into the gaol of Sligo, and then he sent their names to the Go¬ 
vernor of Enniskillen, pretending that Sir Thomas Southwell and 
some other prisoners in Galway, were to he sent to England, in ex 
change for some Irish prisoners kept there. The Governor, suspect¬ 
ing fraud, declined to make the exchange, upon which Sarsfield gave 
very harsh treatment to those lie had in prison, scarcely allowing 
them as much food as would keep them from starving. He made 
them send some of their wives with petitions to Enniskillen, stating 
their miseries, and thus succeeded in the deceit he practised upon a 
generous and humane enemy. All those who were sent in exchange 
had been protected persons, not taken in arms, and therefore could 
not be deemed proper subjects of exchange for men taken in battle. 
It was, in fact, the experience of such faithless dealing and cruel 
usage of individuals after promise of quarter, that some of the Ennis¬ 
killeners were less merciful to the IrB h in battle than they would 
have been to a civilised enemy, and for this reason they enjoyed an 
incredible proportion of quiet during this eventful campaign; being a 
terror to their brutalized adversaries, few of whom attempted to ex¬ 
pose themselves to the hazard of an attack, without great probability 
of success. 



82 


While James’s cause was going to ruin in Ulster, where he ought 
to have been at the head of his array, he assembled his pretended 
Parliament in Dublin, to repeal the act of settlement and outlaw the 
Protestants. It was in vain that the purchasers of property under 
ihe abovementioned act, remonstrated against the repeal of it, many 
of these, particularly in the province of Connaught, were members' 
of the Church of Rome, who, by such a measure, would be turned 
out of their estates and possessions, and be reduced to that state of 
poverty from which they had risen, under the mild sway of a Protes¬ 
tant government. His acts in this, as well as in many other respects, 
were little less injurious to those of his own religion than any other 
description of the people. The trade of the kingdom had been ruin¬ 
ed by his government, and now, under the influence of the French 
Ambassador, who controlled all his actions and turned them to the 
advantage of bis master, he was endeavauring to find Spanish and 
Dutch vessels for the transporting of wool, hides, and other raw ma¬ 
terials of the country, to France, from whence they were to be sent 
back manufactured, to the great advantage of foreign artizans, and to 
the impoverishment of the country which produced them. All prefer¬ 
ments in James’s army were now given to Frenchmen, to the utter 
discontent and indignation cf his Irish adherents, who began to shew, 
in the new Parliament, a disposition to take at least as much care of 
their own interest as that of the unfortunate King, whose difficulties 
and embarrassments began to multiply rapidly around him. He was 
fed by false reports of tine surrender of Derry, and the defeat of a 
great body of Protestant rebels in the county of Down ; and the ex¬ 
aggerated report of the victory over the English fleet at Eantry bay, 
is recorded in terms of great asperity in the account of his life, which 
M‘Pherson has published, as written by himself. “The King,” says 
he, “ received the welcome news of the arrival of the French fleet in 
the hay of Bantiy, and of the fight they had with the English, who 
were beaten and put to fight with as much ignominy, as they had with 
insolence and disrespect of the law of nations, attacked them. This 
arrival of the fleet, which brought a supply of officers, arms, and 
money, filled the court with general satisfaction.” While this para¬ 
dise of fools were exulting in contemplation of their imaginary victo- 
torics, and studiously concealing the disastrous accounts which they 
ware every day receiving from the province of Ulster, the Protestants 
in Londonderry continued to maintain that city with a degree of suc¬ 
cess which surpassed their utmost expectations. Owing to a damp 
cast upon the enemy by their loss at the Wind-mill-hill, which, by 
the. way, was diminished from two hundred, to thirty men, in the 
false account of it which was sent to the unfortunate James; and al¬ 
so, far want of cavalry among the besieged, some weeks of this 
month produced little more than skirmishes, in which Captain Noble 
and many others continued to distinguish themselves. When tiiey 


83 


saw the enemy make an approach towards the city, they would run 
out with ten or twelve men and skirmish a while with them. When 
the besieged, who watched them closely from the walls, saw them 
too closely engaged, or in danger of being overpowered, they rushed 
out in great force to their relief, and always came off with great exe¬ 
cution on the enemy, and with very little loss to themselves. On one 
of these occasions, however, Lieutenant Douglas was taken prisoner 
jmd murdered, after quarter had been promised to him. The day af¬ 
ter the opening of James’s Parliament, Lord Mel fort, his Secretary, 
wrote to Lord Waidgrave, informing him that ail Ireland, except the 
obstinate city of Londonderry, had been brought into subjection. 

At this time the two Captains Close left the city and took protec¬ 
tions, as also did the Rev. John Brisben, a Clergyman of the Esta¬ 
blished Church, mentioned by Mackinzie, but not by Walker or Ash. 
The Clergymen who, according to Walker, stayed with him in the 
city during the siege, were— 

The Rev. Michael Clenaghan, Minister of Londonderry. 

Seth. Whittel, Rector of Bellaghy. 

.fames Watmough, of Arigal. 

John Rowan, of Baltcagh. 

Richard Crowther, Curate of Cumber. 

Thomas Semple, Curalc of Donaghmorc, near Ciadv-ford. 

Robert Morgan, Curate of Cappugh, of the Diocese of Deny. 

Thomas Jenny, Prebendary of Mullaghbrack. 

John Campbell, of Segoe. 

Moses Davies, of Stewartstown or Donaghendrie. 

Andrew Robinson, of——— -— 

Barth. Black, Curate of Aghanleo. 

-Ulingsworlli. Newrv, of the Diocese of Armagh. 

John Knox, Minister of Glasslough. 

-— Johnston, of —-- 

——— Christy, Curate of Monaghan, of the Diocese of Clobber. 

"William Cuningham, of Killishandra, of the Diocese of Kilmore. 


Five of these, viz. Whittel, Watmough, Rowan, Crowther, 
FI lings worth, died during the siege. Mackinzie has left a list of 
Non-Conforming Ministers, of which the following is a transcript 


and 

the 


Messrs. Thomas Boyd, of Aghadowy ; William Crooks, of Ballykellv ; John 
Row at, of Li fiord ; John Mackinzie, of Derriloran; John Hamilton, of Do- 
naghedy ; Robert Wilson, ol' Strabane; David Browne, of Urncy ; William 
Gilchrist, of Kiirca. 

C-f these the four last died during the siege. 


On the eleventh of May upwards of a thousand of the garrison 
went, at an early hour, from the Wind-mill to Pennyburn, with the 
expectation of finding the enemy in their tents, and heating them our. 
of them. Two pieces of cannon which happened to be near, were 
discharged at them ; hut alt ho' they received no injury from the shots, 
they soon found that they could not accomplish their purpose and re¬ 
turned to the citv. 

¥ 


V 







On the thirteenth a biece of cannon was fired up Pump-street from 
the opposite side of the river; it hr she the leg of one hoy and wound¬ 
ed another ; it then rolled all the way to the Church and stuck in the 
v, all. The next day a ball came in the same direction, hut did no harm ; 
both of these were red hot. At the same time one of the Derry-meii 
was killed outside the wall, and as the enemy approached to strip him, 
some of his friends tired at them and brought the body off. Many 
guns were fired this day on belli sides, but no injury was done to the 
city. 

On the sixteenth one of the seijeanis of the besieged was killed by 
the enemy. Several of the citizens imprudently went without orders 
to parley with the Irish, which obliged the garrison to fire some shots 
for the purpose of recalling them, by which four of the enemy were 
killed. The forenoon of the seventeenth turned out extremely wet, 
and nothing was done on cither sido during the whole of the day. 

On the eighteenth, according to Captain Ash’s journal, for the 
date of this transaction is not given by Walker or Mackinzie, a large 
party of the garrison went above Creggan, with Captains Noble and 
Cuningham, where they met the enemy, and were almost surrounded 
before they were aware. Captain Cuningham and several of Ids men 
were killed after quarter had been given to them, and mar.y wer# 
wounded, several of whom died soon afterwards. 

The Irish now gave daily instances of falsehood and perfidy, which 
confirmed an account given by one of their own people, a prisoner in 
the city, who, to ease a troubled conscience, confessed to Walker 
and others, that they had all been bound by an obligation, botii of 
oath and written reflations, not to keep faith with Protestants, and 
to break whatever articles should become necessary to give them.— 
"When they hung out a white flag to invite the besieged to a treaty, 
Governor Walker ventured out to get within hearing- of Lord Louth 
and Colonel O’Neill, and as he passed, an hundred shots were fired 
at him by the perfidious enemy. He got into a house, ami upbraid¬ 
ing some of their officers with this violation of faith and of com¬ 
mon confidence between man and man in civilized warfare, desired 
that they would order their men to he quiet, or he Would com¬ 
mand the guns upon the wall to be discharged at them. The only sa¬ 
tisfaction he got was a denial that those he addressed Avere concerned 
in the shameful act, or knew anything about it. By a flagrant breach 
«;f parole, they contrived to deprive the Derry-men of tiie only boat 
which remained with them, the rest having been taken away by those 
who had fled from the city, or been sent out of it on errands. They 
desired that one White, the owner of the boat, should he sent to 
them, Avith two men, Avhom they promised to send hack in it, hut 
they detained both the men and the beat, to the great loss of those 


who had been credulous enough to rely cn their word. Fifteen or 
sixteen of the besieged were killed in the sally which proved fatal to 
Captain Cuningham. 

About this time the defenders of the city heard of the arrival of 
Colonel Dorrington in the Irish camp, a circumstance eagerly com¬ 
municated to them for the purpose of intimidation. Thin gentleman 
was esteemed to he a very able officer, and of such there was no su • 
perabundauce in the besieging army. The historical drama marks his 
arrival as having taken place before the death of General Ramsay, in 
the engagement of the fourth of tins month. This week the Go¬ 
vernor, with the advice of some officers, drew a line across the 
Wind-miil-liill, from the bog to the water. They secured it when 
finished, with redoubts, to defend it from the enemy's cannon on 
the Prehen side of the river. This new line was guarded both 
night and day by the different regiments of infantry in their turn, 
for some time, hut afterwards, on suspicion of an officer on that out- 
guard, it was kept by detachments out of each. 

The following is the account given of several of the above-men¬ 
tioned enterprises in the Armagh poem 

“ In a few days the Governor sends forth 
Full fifteen hundred soldiers to the north 
Of Creggan burn, and this undaunted band, 

Noble and Cuningham conjoin’d command. 

The fort towards Inch'they seiz’d with matchless force, 

But were surpriz’d by Galmoy’s troops of horse. 

Thirty stout men in this affair were lost, 

And in brave Cuningham alone, a host. 

A prisoner, on articles, the foe 

Broke trust, gad martial law, and laid him low. 

In many a'bloody fray, severely tried, 

By a base murderer the hero died. 

Such deeds as these, grown frequent, caus’d disgust, 

And no’man would an Irish prcmLa trust. 

Mean time brave Noble makes a safe retreat, 

At fair Brook-Hall the enemy we beat; 

And burn their fascines, there the strong Monro, 

Cut down an Irishman at every blow. 

Irvine a Captain, admirably fought, 

Until he was disabled by a shot. 

His father, brave Sir Gerrard, dead and gone, 

Had been renown’d for worth in forty-one. 

The bolts and bars of Londonderry gaol. 

To keep him captive prov’d of r.e avail, 

"When Coote for lovalty a sentence gave, 

"Which doom’d Fermanagh’s hero to the grave. 

The foe our worsted men bagan to cliace, ' 

And to the city they retreat apace. 

The enemy, their army to secure, 

A trench begin across the boggy moor. 

It griev’d our General's great heart and soul. 


To sec them at this work without controul; 
lie therefore led three thousand soldiers out, 

Who beat them in a trice from the redoubt, 

And clear’d the trenches, but some troops of Itorsfi 
In turn repell’d them by their greater force. 

Three times our General the trenches gain’d. 

And on our side success would have remain’d, 
Had not bold Waueop with a fresh supply 
Compell’d our forces to the town to tly ; 

Trom which, because no timely succour came. 

Our Governors, for once, got worthy blame ; 
While in the glory valiant Captain Blair, 

With our commander, bore an equal share. 


On Sunday the nineteenth the body of Captain Cuningham vrg# 
brought into Derry, and interred there next day with military hon¬ 
ours, when there was a solemn fast kept by the members of the 
Church of Scotland, and other Nonconformists. Besides the sermon 
in the Cathedral on this occasion, their Ministers preached in two 
other places of the city, and considerable collections were made for 
the poor, who now began to stand in great need of them. In a short 
time afterwards, another fast was observed by the members of the 
Established Churcb. 


On the twenty-second the Derry-men killed fire of the enemy, and 
the next day many pieces of cannon were discharged on both sides, 
without doing any execution ; this could hardly have happened had 
the contending parties been veterans in the art of war. 

The Irish now moved the main body of their army from St. Johns¬ 
town, and pitched their tents upon Ballongry-hill, about two miles 
from Derry, S. S. W. They placed guards on all sides of the town, 
so that the besieged found it impossible to receive or convey any intel¬ 
ligence, and had great difficulty in obtaining a sufficient supply of wa¬ 
ter, which they often had to seek for at the risk of their lives, and ob¬ 
tained by loss of blood,. One gentleman, burning with thirst, raised a 
bottle of water to his head just as lie took it out of the well, when 
a shot came from a dexterous and perhaps humane marksman, which 
shivered the glass about his lips. The water of the city became so 
muddy by the earth which was shaken into it by repeated concussions 
of the ground from the discharge of cannon on the walls, that the 

garrison were obliged to run these risks to obtain some fit for use._ 

A few filtering stones at this time would have been an invaluable ac¬ 
quisition, 

Three days were now spent, as if by mutual consent of the be¬ 
siegers and besieged, in total inactivity; but before day-light on the 
twenty-seventh, three hundred of the latter, starting from the wind¬ 
mill, divided into two equal parts, and proceeded to Ballougry on the 
one side and Pennyburn on the other, in order to surprise the enemy’s 


camp at these places. 

1 A. 


The assailants of Ballougry effected nothing; 



87 


flie others went near a fort which the enemy had erected, and fired 
briskly at the men in it, but with what effect was not known ; four of 
this party were wounded there, and two killed. Lieutenant Green led 
one of these parties, and Ensign Dunbar the other. On the same 
day the camion from the city killed one of the Irish Captains, and 
wounded two men. Captain Ash sent out his sister Gardiner, to her 
husband, under the protection of the surgeon who came to attend 
Lord Netterville. Captain Fortescue and her brother attended her 
beyond an orchard, where she passed into the enemy’s lines. 

Two regiments of horse and foot now came from Strahane, and drew 
up above Captain Stuart’s house, where they rested a while. Five 
pieces of cannon discharged at them from the Church bastion, obliged 
them to retreat. On this day Major William Church was interred, 
and about the same time the enemy fired three pieces of cannon, a 
hall from one of which entered a window of the Cathedral, hut did no 
other damage. This day the horse-mill at the Freeschool began to 
grind malt; this seems a trifling incident to be recorded, till we con¬ 
sider it as a proof that there could have been no great precaution used 
against approaching famine, when those who were fainting with hun¬ 
ger in July, had been malting their corn in May. 

On the twenty-eighth, as a troop of the enemy’s horse were going 
down to Pennybura, the cannon from the double bastion in the city, 
killed three of them. Governor Baker rewarded the gunners with 
three pieces of money each, of a kind which Captain Ash denominates 
cobs. A bombardment being threatened on the next night, the Go¬ 
vernor took one hundred and seven barrels of powder cut of the 
Church, and buried them in two places in Bishop-street, which had 
been wells, but were now dry. They placed them under tanned and 
green hides, and some beams of timber, covering all with rubbish 
and dung. In the evening a drum was beat through the city to warn 
the inhabitants to provide water in every house to quench the fire, if 
any should arise from the bombardment threatened ihat night. 

The morning of the thirtieth of May arrived, and proved that the 
threatened bombardment of the city, in the preceding night, was one 
cf the many falsehoods circulated by the enemy to harrass the garri¬ 
son. This morning their post was taken, and ail the letters they had 
dispatched from Dublin were brought into the city. They stated 

that no less than three thousand of the Irish army had died of sick- 

* 

ness since the commencement of the siege ; that the survivors could 
get no rest from the frequent sallies of the besieged, and that they 
had made places under ground to secure themselves from the cannon- 
shot, hut all in vain. At the same time advices came from other 
parts, that a large army might be daily expected from England to raise 
the siege, in consequence of which, the guns on the walls were twice 
discharged, and the bells chimed in the Cathedral. 


ua 


On tliift day a ball from a piece of cannon in Capt. Strong’s orchard, 
struck off the arm of one brother, and broke the arm of another, who 
had been walking together in Pump-street* This night the enemy em¬ 
ployed themselves in making ditches on the hill over the bog ; they 
also planted one piece of cannon at Strawbridge-town, and another in 
Tamnemore, over the Lough opposite the Wind-mill-hill. 

Towards the latter end of May, the Governor cf Enniskillen hear¬ 
ing that there was a garrison of the Irish army at Redhills, in the 
county of Cavan, which distressed the Protestant parlies stationed 
near them, and that another at Rallynacarrig, in the same county, was 
equally troublesome; he therefore sent Colonel Lloyd with fifteen 
hundred men to reduce them. The report of his march flying before 
him, with great exaggerations of his numbers, the Irish fled in all di¬ 
rections; and on his arrival at Redhills, the garrison there surrender¬ 
ed upon quarter. As ihe house in which they had posted themselves 
belonged to Colonel White, a Protestant gentleman, then in arms for 
King William, it was left uninjured, and Lloyd proceeded with his 
army to Ballynacarrig, taking his prisoners along with him. The 
castle here was reported to he one. of the strongest in that part of Ire¬ 
land, and had for several days baffled Oliver Cromwell's army, sur¬ 
rendering only on the general desertion of all the strong holds bv the 
Irish, when the whole kingdom was subdued. There was at this 
time, however, km a small garrison in it, with little ammunition, and 
the news of the taking of Redhills struck so great a terror into the 
possessors of it, that in a few hours after the Enniskillen-men got 
there, they held out a flag for a treaty, which ended in a capitulation, 
that they should surrender the car-tie on condition of being permit¬ 
ted, \v*th the prisoners taken in the other fortress, to go away un- 
Btripped, leaving the castle, with all it contained, including arms, am¬ 
munition, furniture, &c. to the plunder of the besieged. Some pikes, 
about thirty musquets, a few cases of pistols, and a little gun-pow¬ 
der were found here. As soon as the castle had been rifled of its 
contents, the soldiers undermined the walls, set it on fire, and in 
a few hours it fell to the ground a heap of ruins. Tins they did, 
because it was a place of great strength, situated in a part of the 
country almost exclusively occupied by the Irish, who would soon 
have repossessed themselves of it if left standing. The news of the 
taking of those places flew to Dublin, gathering importance from ex¬ 
aggeration m it proceeded. Fifteen thousand Protestants wove said to 
be on their march for that city, and the rumour, which spread uni¬ 
versal consternation, was countenanced by the Advance of Colonel 
Lloyd and his men to the neighbourhood of Kells, in the county of 
Meath, from which place and from Finen, on their return, they 
brought back to Enniskillen above three thousand cows and oxen, 
two thousand sheep, and some horses, without the loss of one man. 

On the last day of May, there was u skirmish at the Tvind-iiiiU* 


lull, near Londonderry, the cannon on botli sides ploying smartly. 
About ton o'clock in the morning* a considerable number of' ‘he ene¬ 
my came running down the fields, and possessed themselves of a 
height beyond the place from which they had forced our men to re¬ 
treat, on which a party sallied out of the city to the Wind-mill, 
from which, with the guard there, they went over to the camp at 
the top of the hill, where there was a warm contest for some time, 
hut the Irish, as might bo expected, beat off their assailants, and 
there was much execution on botli sides. 


On the first of June ouq of the small guns at the wind-mill fired 
eight or ten shots at the enemy, as they were employed in making a 
trench opposite the Gallows; and some of those who were at this work 
being shot, the rest ran away. Matty great and small guns were dis¬ 
charged on both sides during this day, and in the course of the night 
there wore four shells thrown into the city. On the next day a can¬ 
non-ball struck off the arms and legs of two men who were lying in 
a little hut on the Bishop’s bowling-green. Men were employed all 
this day in making leaden-balls for the cannon of the besieged ; hogs¬ 
heads were placed in the double and royal bastions, filled with earth 
and gravel, to secure the breast-work from the battering guns of. tbo 
enemy, one cf whose balls, weighing nineteen pounds, struck the 
Cathedral Church, but did little damage to it. For the greater 
part of this afternoon the fire of great and small shot was inces¬ 
sant, and for the four preceding days tbo enemy made no less than 
sixteen forts on both sides of the river, fixing guns upon such of 
them as they designed for immediate use. Within these ten days se¬ 
veral of the enemy’s partisans came to them from Scotland, who ad¬ 
vised a closer investment of the city than had hitherto been at¬ 
tempted. The camps being before this time no nearer than Ballou- 
gry and Pennybura, there was liberty for the grazing of cattle round 
the city within the lines, but from this forward they were so closely 
besieged, that they dared not to venture out of the Island. 


On t?;e third, some ships appeared in the river below Culm ore. 
The Irish discharged thirteen bombs into the city ; the first killed a 
man and a women, the second or third killed Mr. James Boyd in his 
own house, and wounded Anne Heath, who died shortly afterwards. 
The others did no other harm than tear up the streets, making great 
holes in the pavement, and one of them when it broke, flew back 
into tbe river at the Ship-quay. Another fell upon a dunghill in the 
rere of Mr. Cunningham’s house, whose wife had presence of mind 
enough to draw the fuse from the touch-hole in time to prevent an 
explosion of its contents. It weighed two hundred and seventy pounds, 
fifteen of which were gunpowder. 

A cannon ball from Tamnemore on the other side of the water, 
struck Major Graham on the belly, as he was leaning over the wall 


DO 


Shipquay-gate; lie died of the wound next day. During this 
night, fifteen shells were thrown into the city, which Jailed and 
wounded several people, and broke down many houses. Seven men 
of Colonel Lance’s company were killed in Mr. Harper’s house in 
Shipquay-strect, and many others elsewhere. 

On the fourth of this month the Governor of Enniskillen, hearing 
that the Irish army besieging Derry had sent a great many of their 
horses to graze near Omagh, dispatched two troops of dragoons un¬ 
der the command of Captains Francis Gore and Arnold Crosby, into 
the parish of Kiiskerry, ordering them to keep garrison at Trillick, 
a house belonging to Captain Audley Mervyn, and about half way be¬ 
tween Enniskillen and Omagh. They had not staid there above two 
days, when taking with them another troop of horse and two com¬ 
panies of foot that quartered in the parish of Kiiskerry, they went 
in the evening about sun-set towards Omagh, and before eight 
o’clock the next morning they returned to Trillick with about eigh¬ 
ty good horses, taken from the enemy, and nearly as many more 
of smaller and inferior horses fit for labour, and about three hundred 
cows. By tills enterprise they dismounted about three troops of the 
enemy’s horse, and would liave surprised their fort at Omagh, if no¬ 
tice had not been sent to the enemy of their coming, which gave them 
time to secure their position, hut not to save their cattle. On the 
same day that this party marched from Enniskillen, the besiegers of 
Derry attacked the works at the wind-mill with horse and foot, hav¬ 
ing divided the former into three squadrons. The first of them was 
commanded by the Hon. Captain Butler, son of Lord Mountgarret, 
and consisted of gentlemen, sworn, as it was reported, to top the 
Derry lines, which they attacked on the Water-Bide, and the other 
two parties were to have followed them. The besieged placed them¬ 
selves within their line in three ranks, so advantageously, that they 
were able in succession to relieve each other, and fire upon the ene¬ 
my, who expected hut a single volley to impede their course. Their 
infantry had faggots before them for a defence against the shots of their 
adversaries, and all together, horse and foot, began the attack with 
a loud shout, which was re-echoed from all parts of the Irish camp, 
by the savage howl of the numerous rabble that had gathered round 
it. The faggot men found their twigs but a weak defence against 
the bullets of the Protestants, and were routed in a few minutes. It. 
being low water, Captain Butler and the horsemen under his com¬ 
mand came to the end of the line, notwithstanding a heavy fire on 
them, and stooping down over their horses necks, about thirty of 
them leaped on the works, and overtopped them in accomplishment 
of their sworn purpose. The Deny-men, surprised that none of 
these horsemen had fallen from the many shots fired at them, were at 
ast undeceived by Captain Crooke, who observed that they were co¬ 
vered with armour, and commanded a fire upon their horses, which 


01 


nr! such an effect, that. hut. three of those gallant gentlemen escaped 
witii great difficulty. Captains John and James Gladstones, Adams, 
rrancis Boyd, It. Wallace, John Maghlin, and William Beatty, dis¬ 
tinguished themselves highly on this occasion. With the infantry 
under their command, they left the redoubts, and attacked Butler 
and iiis horsemen on the strand, with musquets, pikes, and scythes, 
kdhng most of them, and driving some into the rim 1 , to sink or swim 
in their iron armour. During the heat of this action, a body of the 
enemy’s grenadiers attacked the forts at the Bogside, whew.* Captain. 
Michael Cunningham kept the defenders of them steady to their 
posts till they were beaten back by the enemy. They were ably as¬ 
sisted by Lieutenants James Kerr, Josias AbenietliY and Clark, the 
latter of whom was wounded, at the same moment*with Mr. Tims. 
Maxwell. r l iie lair sex shared the glory of the defence of London¬ 
derry on this Occasion; for when the men, to whom they had, for 
the whole time, intrepidly carried ammunition, match, bread and 
drink, began to fall back, they rushed forward in a considerable num¬ 
ber, and beat back the grenadiers with stones as they attempted to 
climb up the trenches. One brave boy joined them, and altogether 
they stemmed the torrent of war, till a reinforcement rushed from 
the city and repulsed the assailants* After slaughtering sixty of them, 
they chased the rest over the meadows. 


Captain Cunningham narrowly escaped with his life at this time ; 
a cannon ball tore up the ground about him, and he received a mu s¬ 
ket hall in iiis back. 


The rout of General Hamilton’s infantry at the Wind-mill, had 
by this time been completed. They had been as warmly received as 
their cavalry there, and after a few of them had furiously ran in upon 
their opponents, and were either killed or drawn over the works bv 
the hair of their heads, the remainder wheeled about and fled in a 
lumulutous manner. Colonel Munro acquitted himself with great gal¬ 
lantry at this place, as also did Captain Ash, who, with the modesty 
characteristic of heroism, lias not dropped an expression in his Jour¬ 
nal which could intimate Iiis presence there, except the following 
ebullition of gratitude to heaven—“ Blessed he God,” says he, “ we 
had a notable victory over them, to their great discouragement, for 
they have not attempted a place since.” 

The Poem found at Armagh, however, does justice to this gallant 
officer, as well as to many others not mentioned bv him or Walker, 

• V f 

or Mackinzie, and thus affords another opportunity anil apology fo< 
quoting it. 

“ THE SECOND DATTLE OF WIND-MILL HILL, 

4 

“ To guard the Wind-mill from the watchful foe, 

Strong trenches in a line they quickly throw 
From CoJumb’s wells, upon our western side, 


/ 


N 



flown to tho lowest point that marks ti.c tide. 
Colonel Monro is station’d neai the v. 'is— 

Stout Campbell’s post upon Ins left, kai.J fails. 
Along the trenches many Capm-D . stand, 

Loch at the head of an intrepid kmd. 

Beside the glossy margin of the JrJ c, 

Bid Col’nel Cairnes liis position u.ke 
When in defence of our devoted town, 
lie found success and inci ted renown. 

Soon Cornel Nugent in front appears, 
Commanding a strong force of grenadiers, 
lie makes his onset i < uty at. the wells, 

As briskly him the stout Monro repels. 

Then reinforc’d, the Irish force return, 

To fight or die impatiently they burn. 

On goes the fray, till near the holy well 
Is u gent was wounded, and O'i’arrel fell. 

"Waueepand Buchan, Scottish Chiefs, then conir 
Withten battalions, marching fife and drum; 

Yet could they not our constant fire sustain, 

While dead men's bodies cover’d all the plain. 

The Irish press’d our trenches mi the st- and, 

Till nobie Asti their efforts did withstand. 
Armstrong came on to aid him in the fight, 

And then they put their boldest foes to ihght. 
Away, Bob Porter pike and p'ke-stafi' threw. 

And with large stones nine Irish soldiers slew ; 
Another Ajax, aiming sure and slow, 

A skull was fractur’d at hi* every blow. 

Gladstanes and Baird, a bright example show, 
And Captain Hannah stoutly fought the foe. 
Their horsemen bravely came with heart .and hancf, 
IJ.esolv’d that nothing should their arms withstand. 
Bierce was the contest, we their force repel. 

And almost all their gallant party fell. 

Butler their leader, we a pris’ner take, 

Captain M‘Donald too we captive make; 

Whilst valiant Watson, lighting until death, 
liesigned upon the spot his latest breath. 

Cairnes did wonders in this bloody field, 

Where to his arm full many a foe did yield. 

TIere follow’d closely valiant Captain Lane, 

1 ; ":y whom the foe in multitudes were slain. 

m b- root bore off their dea upou their batik-. 

To ss:ve them bodies from cur fierce attack. 

lien reinforc’d, we chaee them e'er the plain, 
There full tv o thousand of their men arc- slain. 
On our side,- Maxwell fell upon tiie spot, 

; ock’J down a. 1 shatter’d by a cannon shot. 

X’. Tie Col’ncl . lammel did the foe pursue, 

V (High his left cheek a pistol bullet flew. 

T valiant Murrav, Ac.” 

V * 

V iw/yv 


Here ii> a want of eight pages. 

tv-: account of the carrying oS the dead bodies cf tin 


sir ccmta- 

A 



vuon.i. for the purpose of saving their own hones, is corroborated both, 
hy V\ aiker and Maekinzie, the former of whom says, “ We wondered 
that toe foot did not, according to custom, run faster, till we took 
notice that in their retreat they took their (lead on their hacks, and 
so preserved their own bodies from the remainder of our shot, which 
was more service than they did when alive.” 

The Irish lost four hundred of their men in this action, and the 
following is a list of their loss in officers :—- 

Lieutenant-Colon 1 Farrel, two French Captains, Captain Graham, Lieuten¬ 
ant Bourke, Adjutant Fahey, Quarter-Master Kelly, Ensigns Norris and \r- 
t! nr, killed. The lion. Captain Butler, with Captains M‘l)onncl, M‘Ponagh, 
and "Watson, Lieutenants Eustace, a French Lieutenant, and serjeant lhgot, 
prisoners. 


1 Me Derry-men lost hut five or six private men. Captain Maxwell, 
who behaved hii nel' with great courage on this occasion, had his ana 
broken ov a cannon-hall, of which he died in three days afterwards ; 
and Thomas Gow had all the flesh shot from the calf of his ieg by 
another, bttfc the bone not bejng broken, lie rfcovered. Maekinzie 
mentions three of their Colonels, Murray, Monro, and Hammel, 
w!io were engaged on that day, and he says, in corroboration of the 
account in the Armagh Poem, that the latter was hurt on the cheek 
with a small bullet, a circumstance not noticed cither by Walker or 
Ash. The Irish lost four pair of colours in this action, and almost 
all their arms, which incensed them so much, that they 'threw six and 
thirty shells into the town, by which many lost their lives. One cf 
those, fell on the house of Colonel ( airnes, and made its way down 
to the cellar, where some of the sick men of Captain Ash’s com¬ 
pany lay ; it, killed two of them, and wounded many others.— 
Some of Major Campsie s and Mr. Sherraru’s men were killed by 
these shells. One of t hem fell on the Diamond-house, went through 
it, and fell within six feet of forty-seven barrels of gun powder which 
had been buried in a dry well. 

On the next day, being Friday the fifth of June, twenty-six bombs 
plaved against the citv, hv which man / were killed and wound- 

J • _ u » ' * * 

ed. They broke down houses, raised stones, and made great holes 
in the streets. On the same day Mr. Edmund Stones, in the time of 
parley, went with leave from the Irish to a little well beyond the Bog, 
when a French officer treacherously rarne behind him, snatched hits 
sword out of the scabbard, and wounded him, but not mortally, i.i 
the side. 


The enemy now encroased their shells to a great size ; some (: hem 
were said to weigh two hundred and seventy-three pounds, but their 
fuses nor being prepared in an efficient manner, a great proportion oi 
them fell without bursting, and did no damage Such of them as did 


/ 


94 


hurst were very destructive, and the terror of them made the inhabi- 
iants leave tlieir houses at night and lie about the walls, where they 
contracted diseases, which added to the prevailing mortality. Major 
Breme and Surgeon Lindsay were killed on the night of this day, as 
also Mr. Henry Thompson, a public-spirited Burgess of the city. Tho 
loss of Mr. Lindsay at this time was much felt, for he had been very 
useful to the sick and wounded soldiers. The bombs supplied only 
one convenience to counterbalance nil the mischief they did ; fuel was 
now growing scarce, and they saved the trouble of ascertaining which 
of the houses should be pulled down first to supply it. One of th» 
sb 1 Is fell into the house of Captain James Boyd, broke down the 
side of it, and killed himself. Several officers who were then at din¬ 
ner in the house escaped the danger, though the shell fell near the 
room in which the were -it; ug. Another killed seven, and another 
three of the men of the garrison. 

o 


On the next, morning the bombs began again, and out of two 
mortars thirty shells were discharged, some large and some small, 
which did great mischief. One of these fell on Major Campsie’s house, 
sunk into the ccliav, and struck the heads out of two wine hogs¬ 
heads, but for'unately did not touch a large quantity of gun-powder 
which iay near them. Another fell on Captain (fairness house, break¬ 
ing ail the furniture and glass in it. Another fell on Captain Abram’* 
house, and smeared it all over with some sirup which had been stor¬ 
ed there ; it also broke the Captain’s under jaw. Three of them fell 
on the Market-house, which greatly defaced it, and spoiled the clock. 

On the seventh eleven bombs were shot into the city, with little or 
no damage to it; and in the mean time the spirits of the garrison were 
raised by the view ot tlireo smalls ships, the Greyhound frigate with 
two small ketches coming up the river towards Culm ore. A boat was 
launched for the purpose of meeting them, but could not be moved 
fi ora the shore, because the places for the oars had been made so near 
to each other, that the men had not room to row. The ships fired 
on the castle at uhnore as soon as they approached within shot of it, 
but one of them running aground on being left by the tide, was much 
endangered by the enemy’s cannon. The Irish called to the Deny- 
men in derision to send down carpenters to mend her; but she soon 
righted, and with the others got out of the range of the fire from the 
fort. In the Life of James the Second, it is observed, that this ves¬ 
sel would have been battered to pieces, but that the gunners at Cul- 
juore were none of the best. 


TV 

A : 


he bombs recommenced their work of destruction next day, no 
h- ; scan ; v o ant: ti-.riy of t eni being discharged into the city, killing 
V ,;ne people and wounding many more, by shattering their "legs and 
a.ntd to pieces. Guo of them fell upon Mr. Moore s house, and drove 


a stone out of it, which killed a man at the Ship-quay bastion, below 
the magazine. 

On Sunday the ninth there was a pause in the firing on the city ; 
the besiegers for this day intermitted their cannonade^ not in honour 
ot the Sabbath, which they had never before tins tune observed as a 
day of rest from their fruitless labours at Londonderry, hut because 
it happened to he the patron day of St. Coltimb Kill!!! 


On the tenth the Odvernor of Enniskillen having heard of the 
dreadful state of the Protestants in Londonderry, who, it was gene¬ 
rally thought, would be obliged to surrender if not relieved in a very- 
few days, marched with two thousand of his men on his wav toward* 
that City, and came that night to Trillick. The next morning he 
proceeded towards Omagh, and on the way received a false information 
of that place having been abandoned by its garrison. Deceived by 
this news, some of those who travelled with the Enniskillenner*, but 
were not under any command, went on before the main body, in 
hope of getting the plunder of the town before the soldiers got into 
it. Such was their incautious haste that they went near a mile be¬ 
fore the forlorn hope, and the consequence was, that when they got 
within three miles of Omagh, they were surprised by a party of the 
Irish that lay in ambuscade in a valley, and came upon them una¬ 
wares. They all, however, effected their escape, with the exception 
of Mr. Rowland Betty, a man in good esteem among all who knew 
him. After discharging his pistol at the enemy, he was in the act 
of wheeling round and retreating, when his horse fell with him to 
the ground, and before he could recover the saddle again, they came 
forward to him, took him prisoner, and after bringing him a great 
way nearer to Omagh, cruelly murdered him. In this way indeed 
did they usually deal with all the prisoners who surrendered to them 
on promise of quarter. In the mean time the Governor of Ennis¬ 
killen, with his party, marched within a mile and-a-lialf of Gmc<>h. 


On the next day he possessed himself of the whole town except 
the fort, which lie invested ; his men being good marksmen, as the 
Protestants generally were, placed themselves in the houses about it, 
and fired with such precision upon the besieged that not a man of them 
came in view, after one of them had been killed and others wounded. 
In a few hours, however, an express arrived from Enniskillen, followed 
hv several other hasty communications, informing the Governor and 
officers with him, that Colonel Sarsfield, with five or six thousand 
men, had advanced to Ballyshannon and laid siege to it, and that at 
the same time Colonel Sutherland had appeared with another army 
before Belturbet. Each of these places being in different directions, 
twenty miles distant from Enniskillen, the danger of an attack from 
these armies appeared imminent, and a consultation was held, when if, 
was resolved that it was their most immediate duty to return to the 
protection of their town, than to proceed according to their previous 


purpose io the relief of another. Some of the officers would have 
the town of Omagh burned, it being a great shelter and convenient*'® 
to the Irish army on their marches through the country; but as it be¬ 
longed to Captain Mervyn, a steady Protestant, it was saved for ids 
sake: and on the next day the whole party returned to Pnniskilleii. 


On the eleventh two of the enemy’s mortars threw no less than 
'twenty-eight shell* into the city of Londonderry. 

“ The Irirh bombs cast many a fatal ball, 

Which bursting, tly amongst us as they fall ; 

Terror around in each direction spread, 

Knock down the living, and disturb the dead, 
l3y these dread harbingers of sudden death. 

The tender matron yields her struggling breath. 

The hero lifeless on the pavement lies, 

Aiid the pale infant in his cradle dies.” 


At six o’clock in the evening of this day a fleet appeared in Lough- 
Foyle, whi< h came up to the Three Trees, about an hour before 
midnight. A flattering communication was made to the besieged this 
evening by one Dobin, who came from the enemy’s camp, and told 
them that the Irish army, tonified at the approach of the English 
fleet with troops on hoard, had resolved to decamp the next night. 
This information, however, soon proved to have heen premature.—■ 
The mortality in the city, front various causes, because at tins tiro.* 
very great, and from the commencement of the siege to this time, 
thirty persons, on an average, were buried in it every day. The 
mortality in the Irish camp, as afterwards appeared, was scarcely less 
in ’-report. to the number of people which it contained, for the 
season was in usually cold and wet, and a dry bed for the sick or 
wounded was a luxury enjoyed by few. 


C. t* e fourteenth the shells continued to fall in the city, hut with¬ 
out doing any great mischief. 

Ti e Eimisldllrnners revived intelligence on the fifteenth of ibis 
month, that Colonel Sutherland’s force at Belturbet was daily increas¬ 
ing, as the Irish were flocking to him from all parts of the country, 
and that it was Isis intention to advance in a short time into the coun¬ 
tv of Fermanagh. Resolved to anticipate their attack, the Governor 
r.f Enid kitten ordered Colonel Lloyd to take the field with the great¬ 
est strength of foot and horse which he could collect, and to march 
against Sutherland. In two days afterwards, Lloyd, with his little 
arr. v, which Irish rumours had again swelled to the imaginary num¬ 
ber of. bfteen thousand, came to Maguire/s-bridge, half way between 
Enw Aillen and Belturbet, from which a spy fled on his approach and 
informed Sutherland that all the forces of the ExmEkillewiers were v 
ftdl march to attack him. This officer had with him at Belturbet oi ¬ 
ly two regiments of foot,, a regiment of dragoons, and a few troops 
of horse. He had brought with Lira from Dublin spare aims for two 


raiments of new raised men, that were every dav coining to him* 
and he had provided some pieces of cannon and a great *tore of bis¬ 
cuit, wheat, flour, malt and other provisions for his army, intending 
to besiege EmiLkiUen. When the news of the appioach of Lloyd 
was conveyed to him, he gave credit to the exaggerated account of 
the number of his opponents, and no longer considered it, safe to re¬ 
main in Belturbet. There was no place of strength there hut the 
Church and the Grave-vard about it, the latter of which was but 
weakly fortified, and not large enough to contain the men lie had 
with him. lie therefore retreated towards Monaghan, intending, 
if pursued, to got under the shelter of the fort at Charlemont, 
and left a detachment of eighty dragoons, with about two hun¬ 
dred foot, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Edward Scott, and 
some other officers, to defend themselves against the EnnLkillenners 
in Belturb'et. The next day happening to be remarkably wet, 
Lloyd’s army could not march from their quarters, and so the retreat 
of Sutherland was effected without a pursuit, but on the succeed¬ 
ing day, which proved fair, the Enniskilenners appeared before Beltuf- 
bet. Colonel Lloyd advancing at the head of his men against the 
town, ordered Captain Robert Vaughan and Captain Hugh Gal¬ 
braith, with their two troops of dragoons, on the forlorn hope. With¬ 
in two miles of that town they were fired upon by a troop of dra¬ 
goons, upon which they alighted from their horses and lined the 
ditches upon both sides of the road, which unusual manoeuvre, toge¬ 
ther with the appearance of the main body of their army coming up 
at the moment, caused the Irish dragoons to retreat to Belturbet, 
where, with the rest of their party, they took post in and about the 
Church, and in the Archbishop of Dublin’s house adjoining to it, 
and commanding them so from a range of windows in an upper story, 
that it appeared to be almost impossible for the assailants to stand 
within the range of their fire. But after two hours skirmishing, in 
which they proved themselves, as usual, but indifferent marksmen, 
and lost some of their numbers, they held out a white-flag for a trea¬ 
ty, and surrendered upon conditions, that their lives should be spar¬ 
ed, hut that the common soldiers should be stripped of their red 
coats, winch was accordingly done. The officers were not included 
in this ignominious stipulation, and had all their money, under ten 
pounds each, left with them. The prisoners amounted in num¬ 
ber to three hundred, including Colonel Scott and thirteen other 
officers. Two hundred of the meanest of these prisoners wore dis¬ 
charged next morning, the victors being unwilling to take the trouble 
of maintaining them, and the rest, with their officers, were brought 
to Enniskillen, together with about seven hundred musquets, a barrel 
and an half of gun-powder, eighty dragoon horses, with ah' the ac¬ 
coutrements belonging to them, about twenty horse-loads of biscuit, 
above fifty barrels of flour, one hundred barrels of wheat, some malt 
and other provisions, and as many red coats as served two companies 


of men, who werfc in great want of such doathing. All this valuable! 
plunder, except the horses, was conveyed by boats over Lough Erne 
to Enniskillen, where it was very acceptable, particularly the gun¬ 
powder, which was as much as the garrison bad at that time remain¬ 
ing: in their stores. This disoersiou of an hostile force, with the sea- 
sonahle supply of necessaries, was achieved witbo the loss of a 
man!!! The biscuit and hour yielded the garrison a supply of food 
which lasted till their harvest afforded them a new supply, and the 
arms were almost as necessary to the new raised compai ies, as the 
clothing had been. 

Matters, however, wore a different aspect in Londonderry at this 
time, where a want of provisions began to be severely felt; it was in 
vain that the precaution had beer taken of salting and barrelling the 
flesh of the horses killed in die second engagement at the Wind-mill* 
hill, anti that the garrison had for a considerable time before been put 
upon a short allowance of provisions; famine now stared them in the 
lace and many of them began to die of hunger. They were now re¬ 
duced to such straits, that where they could find a horse grazing: 
near the Wind-mill, they would kill and cat him ; and when they saw 
live fleet this day (the thirtieth,) remain below Culmore without an at¬ 
tempt to come up, it cast a cold damp on their too confident hopes, 
and sunk them as low as they had been raised by the first sight of it.; 
This feet was under the command of Major-General Kirk, a man not 
likely to go much out of his way, for the purpose of diminishing the 
sum of human misery. It consisted of thirty sail, with a reinforce¬ 
ment of five thousand men, and a supply of provisions. The besieg¬ 
ed made the usual demonstrations of joy on the appearance of relief, 
but they were not returned. The works erected on each side of the 
river deterred Kirk from endeavouring to bring the fleet to its desti¬ 
nation. Signals of distress were in vain made from the steeple. 
Kirk, on seeing the enemy draw their cannon to the water side, sail¬ 
ed out of the mouth of the harbour, and left the men of Derry in 
despair. The consternation of the besieging army on the appearance 
of this fleet, formed a strong contrast with the feelings which prevail¬ 
ed among the besieged. They Irish were observed, on the first ap¬ 
pearance of the fleet, to be in great agitation, pulling down their tents, 
changing their red coats for other ( loathing, and many of them actu¬ 
ally running away ; but their terror subsided when they saw Kirk, 
disregarding the advantage of wind and tide, sail out of the river and 
withdraw the terriflSc vision from their sight. The boom, which was 
afterwards thrown across the river had not at tins time been complet¬ 
ed, and had this unfeeling man remained, even where he was for the 
night, the enemy’s camp would, in all probability, have been desert- 
eel before morning, and six weeks of intense suffering might have 
been saved the defenders of the city. 


<!.' <Iu! not, however, abandon Lis purpose; lie turned round xVilfi 
!iis fleet into Lough Stilly, and fortified the Island of Inch, which 
a.s wed situated for jedding a. correspondence both with Derry an i 
h n iiskillen. Immediately aft«r the disappearance of Kirk’s fleet, the 
Irish began to make a boom across the river from Charles fort to 
Brook-hall, which was directly opposite to it. The first boom was 
made of oaken beams, hound together with iron chains and strong 
cables twisted about them. They were employed for an entire week 
m drawing timber and other materials, but when they thought they 
had their Work completed, it was found as useless as Robinson Cru¬ 
soe’s dry-land boat, for although it was near enough the water to he 
launched, it would not, float, and was soon broken by the spring tides. 
After this they made another of lighter material, which appeared to 
answer their purpose much better, till it. was tried by the Mountjoy 
oi Derry. It was fastened at, one end through the arch of a hiidge, at 
the other by a huge piece of timber, the larger end of wl’ich whs sunk 
in the ground, and fortified by heavy stone work. The account of 
this boom, brought into the city, hv prisoners, with the usual exag¬ 
gerations, created great alarm and uneasiness there ; hope was rapidly 
disappearing, while abortive efforts were incessantly made by signals 
from the steeple to the ships, am! back from them again, to commu¬ 
nicate or acquire intelligence of what was to be expected at this try¬ 
ing crisis. 

On Sunday the sixteenth the bells of the cathedral rung a peal of 
;ov on the discovery of twenty sail of ships in the direction of Cole¬ 
raine. Three rounds of cannon were fired from the walls, and an- 
swered from the vessels at sea. At the same time (Governor Walker, 
very prudently proposed to the garrison to accept a random of five hun¬ 
dred pounds for the wounded and worthless body of Colonel Tall ot, 
commonly called Wicked Will Talbot. A council was hold *n docido 
on this offer, in the bed-chamber of Governor Baker, who had taken 
his last sickness at this time, hut the garrison had such a rooted ha¬ 
tred to Tvreonnel, that they used most violent threats against any one 
who should attempt to liberate his relative on any terms, and burned 
the bier which had been sent for the dying man. Baker’s utmost 
efforts were scarcely able to restrain their fury on this occasion, and 
they treated Walker not only with disrespect, hut menaces. They 
afterwards made no opposition to an offer made by the Governors to 
release this prisoner on condition that the enemy would permit a man. 
to co to the ships with a message from them, and lie allowed to re¬ 
turn to the city, hut this, which might probably have been accom¬ 
plished for one-half of the sum which had been offered as a ransom 
for Talbot, was refused. Talbot’s death, in a short time, proved 
that Walker’s advice ought to have, been taken. 

On the morning after the refusal of the random for this prisonw, 
the rabble of the garrison, whose indiscretion seemed to increase as 

O 


> > > 

t „ * 


TOO 


their dangers multiplied, asrnfming' the government of the city, In -* 
freak, put Lord NeUerville, Sir (turret Aylmer, Mr. Newcomen* 
■John Buchanan, Bryan McLaughlin,. and alP the prisoners except: 
Talbot, into Newgate. They then went about the city, taking meal, 
and whatever they could . *t, without respect to persons or property. 


a 


“ Iliacos pc.ccatur maros inter et extra.' 

in the evening of ‘lie same dav this capricious rnoh released Sir Gar* 
ret Aylmer and Mr. Newcomen, and the others oh the next dav. 


About this time fever, dysentery, rtnd other diseases, became very 
Creneral, and a great mortality existed among the garrison and inha¬ 
bitants of the city ; in one day no less than fifteen Commissioned 
officers died. 


Famine now approaching', Alexander Watson, Captain of the gun¬ 
ners, who, for the most part, had houses in the city, was ordered 
with Ids men to make a diligent search for provisions, which they 
did with good effect ; for, digging up cellars and other places, they 
found a very considerable quantity of meal and other articles of food 
which had been buried by persons who had died or left the city. 
Many also, who had secret stores, came voluntarily with their stock 
of provisions to the public receptacle for them, by which means the 
garrison was furnished with bread nearly to the end of the siege, tho’ 
the allowance was little. On the fifteenth of this month the allow¬ 
ance to each company, consist ing of sixty men, was half a barrel of 
barley and sixty pounds of meal. 

The be iegod now sent many a longing look towards the ships, and 
building an eight oared boat, sent it out well manned to attempt a 
passage down the harbour, with an account of their miserable state. 
The adventurers went off with the prayers and blessings of the anxious 
multitude, but finding it impossible to proceed on their destination 
through the shower of halls fired at them from each side of the water, 
they returned to their disappointed friends. 

The iron bullets hitherto used by the defenders of the city being 
now almost spent, the want of them was first supplied by leaden bullets, 
in the heart of each of which were pieces of burned brick, and in a 
little time several balls were made of rounded stones. 


On the eighteenth of June James being in severe want of money, 
began to issue vast quantities of coin, made current by a proclama¬ 
tion at a rate utterly disproportioned to its intrinsic value. The me¬ 
tal of which it was made was the very worst kind of brass ; old guns, 
and the refuse of the basest metals, were melted down to make it.—■ 
Tiie braziers shops were first ransacked, and then the kitchens of the 
metropolis were pillaged of their brass pots, skillets, and boilers.— 
All the brass that could he collected in the houses was brought to the 
Mint, and scarcely a single rapper, was left upon a hall-door in Dublin. 


c 


i 


101 


The workmen rated this metal at three or four pence a pouftd, ami 
wlien it was coined, three or four pence were metamorphosed inti) 
rbree pounds, In this way all tin:* government payments were made, 
and the Protestants were compelled to take it in exchange for their 
goods, while they were obliged to make all their payments lit gold or 
silver, by which they were defrauded of about sixty thousand pounds 
a month from this time to the victory at the Boyne. None of the 
brass money, however, was imposed upon the men of Londonderry or 
Enniskillen; .the metal they received from their enemies, they repaid 
with interest in the same coin. ‘ . 


On the eighteenth day of this month the Marescbal-General 
Conrad Die Rosen arrived at the Irish camp, with a reinforcement 
of fifteen hundred men. He expressed his utter contempt for the 
city as soon as he looked at it, declared that he could make his men 
bring it to'him stone by stone, and impiously swore by the belly of 
Rod, that he Would demolish it and bury its defenders in the ruins. 
But this vapouring had as little weight here as this vain Frenchman’s 
promises, of which he was remarkably profuse, and the first order is¬ 
sued alter this accession of strength to the enemy was, that no maN, 
ON PAIN OP DEATH, SHOULD SPEAK OF SURRENDERING THE CITY. 

Governor Baker grew so very ill at this time that he found it neces¬ 
sary to depute Colonel Mitr helbm n to he joint Governor with the Rev. 
George Walker, daring his sickness, that when one commanded in 
sallies, the other might take care of the city, and il one should fall, the 
place might not be kept without a Governor, and put to the hazard of 
being divided by an election. During the evening of the eighteenth 
the mooof tlie city pulled down the remainder of the market-house, 
-carrying Hf the timber for fuel, which had become scarce at this time ; 
‘tand during the-night Colonel Murray, with Captains Noble, Dunbar, 
and Holmes, with two Lieutenants, one Wrake, and Alexander Poke, 
a gunner, went up the river in the new boat, on pretence of plundering 
jthe»fibh-houses on the Island, but with the real design to, jand two 
messengers in a wood four miles from the c»ty, to go to Enniskillen 
with aw account of their distressed situation. When they had got 
some little distance towards their destination, the enemy tired on tin m 
from both sides of the shore, and when arrived at Donnelong wo* d, 
where they intended to land tti e messengers, the boys were so terrpled 
that they would not venture ashore, and the design was frustrated— 
The, morning in theaiiean time began-.to dawn, when Murray and bis 
party discovered two large boats behind them, manned with dragoons, 
advancing to cot .-off--their retreat. A sharp conflict ensued, and after 
the ammunition on both sides was spent, one of the boats attempting 
to board the Derry-men,- “ caught a tartar," as Mackinzie expresses it, 
for those whom they would have thus overpowered, rushed into their 
2'sailant’s vessel, heat some of the crew into the water, killed three or 
(bur others, with two of their Lieutenants, upon which the remainder 


threw down tilt h arms and begged for quarter. Thirteen prisoners were 
taken in this heat. 1 he enemy in the other seeing the fate of their 
companions, retreated with all the haste they eonhi, while the victors 
carried their prisoners and some small plunder to the city. The ene¬ 
my fired upon them from both tides of the river as they passed down, 
and yet such was the inaccuracy with w hich they and the dragoons in 
the boats levelled their pieces, that no other Injury was done than 
the infliction of a slight contusion on Colonel Murrays head, and 
the wounding of one man. Encouraged by this success, the party in 
the Derry boat, after landing their prisoners near the city, and deli¬ 
vering them to the guards, returned to attack a detachment of the 
Irish in Tamneymore, who were at this time drawing off one of their 
cannon, hut they fled on the approach of the boat, leaving the gun be* 
hind them, and were followed nearly to the top of the hill, tv hen the 
pursuers perceiving a strong party advancing to intercept .hem, turned 
hack, and with difficulty got into their boat. Captain Ash'- date of 
lit is transaction differs from that assigned to it both by Walker and 

V- • 

Mackinzie. This day a regiment of the Irish horse came from Muff 
and drew up in a body near Rossdoney. Three pieces of cannon were 
fired at them from the bulwark above lorry-gate, which were suppos¬ 
ed to have done some execution, and caused them to retreat by the 
tame road which they game. 

Desertions from the city new became so frequent, that the enemy 
received constant intelligence of what was passing in it, which gave 
great trouble to ike Governors, as they were obliged, under such cir¬ 
cumstances, to make frequent removal of their ammunition, and use 
Other inconvenient expedients to render this kind oi information un¬ 
certain. As a counterbalance to some of the many prevalent distresses 
at this period of the siege, the gunners had now, by experience, be¬ 
come so precise in levelling the guns upon the walls, that scarcely a 
feuigie snot was bred vviiuoui doing execution. 

Immediately after the arrival of Rosen, he caused some batteries to 
be thrown up by night, and raised a line on the other sine of the 
bog opposite to the Yv ind-miil hill, preparatory to his laying and 
springing; a mine, and he removed tire besieging camp and trenches 
nearer to the town than they had been, for the purpose of cutting 
oil* the works and interrupting the relief of guards. He also ran aline 
through the. orchard opposite to Butclier’s-gate and within a lew perches 
of it; ordering the mortar pieces to be taken from the orchard on the 
tuber side ol the river and to be placed on the hill above the hog on 
the western side of the city. lie also planted the battering guns, 
which threw balls of about twenty pounds each, at a convenient dis¬ 
tance before the same gate. I hey plied the besieged closely with 
their bombs and battering pieces from this time to the twenty-first of 
July, when they entirely ceased, filing them at uncertain hours, some 
iu the day-lime ugu some ut ingot. 


103 


The Governors availing themselves of the skill and industry of 
Captain Schoiuberg, son of the renowned veteran Mareschal of that 
name, and regularly trained in the art of war, and being moreover in¬ 
structed hy the manoeuvres of the enemy, which they closely watched, 
countermined the besiegers before Butchers’-gate, and contrived a blind 
to protect their engineers from the opposite battery, whose lire was 
returned with such vigour and precision from the walls, that few days 
passed without the loss of some choice and moat forward iueu in the 
Irish army. 


On the night of the twentieth, some of the enemy came upon the 
guards on the out-posts at the gallows, and wounded one of them, 
obliging the rest to retreat to the wind-mill, which alarmed the city, 
and a strong force went out, expecting an assault. They waited there 
all night on the alert, but no attack was made upon them. 

Twenty bomb shells were thrown into the City on the twentv-Srst 
of June ; tw o of (hem fell upon the Church, one of them passed over 
without injuring it, the other raised some sheets of lead, but it did 
not pass through, and some fragments of it were found hy ?*Tr« W iliiatu 
Stewart, when taking off the materials of the old roof in the Autumn 
ol 1822. The vest did little damage except killing one man and 
wounding another. . Two of the Derry-men were killed this day near 
the lane next the meadows,, from the new trench made l»v the enemy 
opposite the wind-mill, and about this time many were killed in at¬ 
tempting to bring water from St. Columb's well. A council was held 
i .is day at. the Bishon’s palace, where Governor Balter lay extremely 
hi, in which Mitchelburn was confirmed by his worthy predecessor, 
the Governor of the city, unless he should recover from his illness, 
which was still expected. Captain Ash mentions this circumstance su* 
a nroof that no malice burned in Baker’s rnind against Mitchelburq, 
although there had been a dispute between them of such u nature that 
they drew their swords upon each other. 

On the twenty-third the remains of Colonel Talbot, who died two 
da vs before, were in terred, and his wife, who had offered the ransom 
for him, was, after some deliberation, where there ought to have been 
none, permitted to go from the garrison. She went out in the evening 
attended by some officers. One of the Captains, named Stringer, de¬ 
serted to the enemy this day, and also one of the drummers. The 
engineers of the Irish army prosecuted their works in the orchard 
this night, the besieged still firing at, them from the wall ; on the next 
day the trench through that orchard was finished, and six bombs were 
thrown into the city, of which only three'exploded. 

The garrison had now used all their endeavours to pet intelligence 
from the ships, but in vain. The signs from the steeple, both hy dags 
and cannon-shot failed to elicit any intimation that Kirk was acquaint¬ 
ed with the (iiotiessvjtl Situation Oi the city. Acuciie, i*ltcit\«rds a 


Captain in Kin<* YdihuiHG* armv, arrived with a letter from ft;? 
lish General, assuring them, in the kindest manner, that every tiling 
in Scotland, England, and Ireland was prosperous, and that succours 
beyond their wishes were speedily to join them ; lie added, however, 
a chilling caution to husband their provisions, an admonition, says 
Dalr v tuple. more alarming to them than all the menaces of their ene¬ 
mies. A Scotchman named Janies Croinie had accompanied Roche 
from the fleet to the spot on the river side, where he hid his dollies 
and took the water, hut being unable to swim, waited for a dav or 
two concealed in bushes near that place, expecting a boat which his 
adventurous companion had promised to send for him in the course of 
the night. The Irish guards, however, discovered him, and by way 
of counterplot, obliged him, on penalty of death, to swear that he 
would give the besieged a discouraging account. They then hung out 
« signal for ja parley, which being granted, ami some men being sent 
over to speak with him, he repeated the account which he had sworn 
to give: yet when Ctdomd Blair asked him w hy liis account differed 
from that of Roche, he replied, that he was in the enemy’s camp, 
and the other messenger within the Walls of Derry. Kirk’s let 
ter, which was directed to Walker, had been written on the pre¬ 
ceding Sunday, and, in addition to the particulars above-mentioned, if, 
stated that officers, ammunition, and arms had been sent from the 
feet to the Einuskiileniiers. who, for their encouragement, it reported 
to have had £ force of three thousand infantry and fifteen hundred 
horse, with a regiment of dragoons, all of which had promised to 
come to die relief of Derry. The writer said that he would, at the 
same time, make a diversion, by attacking the enemy with a force de¬ 
tached from the island of Inch, and that lie was in momentary expec¬ 
tation of a reinforcement of three thousand men from England, as 
they had been shipped there eight days before, l ie added, that from 
several of the enemy olio had deserted to him, he had assurances' 
that the berieging array could not stand long, and that he had heard 
from Enniskillen of the defeat of the Duke of Berwick. Chaiged 
with this letter, and accompanied by Croinie, Roche passed through 
the eaeoiys out-posts, camp, and guard, a distance of about eight 
miles, whence, as already mentioned, he proceeded alone, and swam 
into the ci‘v. He was m>t so fortunate in his return to the fleet; after 
resting but owe dav iu Decry, he swam to the spot where he had left 
bis clothes, a distance of thrive miles, and found they had been taken 
away. The Governors' letters were tied in a bladder to protect them 
from the water, raid concealed in his hair. He van in a state of naked¬ 
ness for three miles, pursued by the enemy, and escaped from them 

only by taking shelter in a thick wood where horsemen could not It 1- 
* * 

low him, hut where his sufferings were intense from the laceration of 
bis bodv by briars and thorns. Covered from heat! to foot with blood , 
he passed round through the woods to tiie water-side, where he unfor¬ 
tunately mat with a party cf the Irish dragoons, one of whom broke 


105 


Ills Jaw* bone with a halbert, after which be piling?*! Into the river, ami 
though lie was tired at several times, and wounded in the arm, hmwt, 
an;l shoulder, be chose, as lie afterwards stated in his petition to th« 
Eiiudish House of Commons, to die in the r*-hor than betray 

the trust reposed in him. When force was found ineffectual to stop 
this intrepid messenger, his pursuers offered him a thousand pounds if 
he would deliver up the letters he carried, but this he refused to do, 
and not finding it practicable to proceed to the sleet, swam hack to 
Derry, and by preconcerted signals, cave notice to ( coeval Kirk that 
be had delivered bis letter, with an intimation of the length ©f time 
which the city might !>e expected to hold out. These signals were th© 
taking down the flag- for a short time, and the firing of a certain mar.* 
her of guns from the steeple of the Cathedral, Kirk hud ineffectual¬ 
ly offered three thousand guineas to anv man who would undertake to 
deliver this letter, till Roche, at last,, took charge of it* Walker's letter 
to Kirk, which had been thus prevented from going by the intended 
mode of conveyance, reached him however, and copies of it have 
been given in Nairna's collection of state papers* It mentioned the 
capitulation offered by General Hamilton, ami the probability that ib.vt 
city would be compelled to accept of it, if not relieved before six 
days. He also represented the distress of the garrison and the facility 
of sending them provisions. A letter of the same date* signed by three 
of the citizens, was inclosed in Walkers. They informed the General 
that they had fed for some time upon horse-flesh* which now began to 
fail them. They complained of sickness, mortality, and desertion* 
and prayed to be relieved by a supply of provision's, and to have a, 
Governor appointed if the siege should not be raised* A third letter, 
of the same date, and signed by Walker, Baker, and fir© nt the citi¬ 
zens, mentioned the effect which the appearance©*' the fleet in Lough* 
Boyle, and the delay of landing, after that time* hud produced upon 
tire enemy. It stated their fears of being undermined* their want of 
food for eight days, even of horse-flesh, upon which fhay had sub¬ 
sisted for a considerable time before, and in the name of themselves 
and twenty thousand distressed Protestants, shut up in the ntv* W 
account, of their loyalty and perseverance, prayed to be supplied with 
provisions; especially biscuit, cheese, and butter, as they had n© fuel t© 
dress their meat. They recapitulated their utmost incredible victories! 
over the enemy, and the names of the many officers ct note they had 
killed or taken prisoners, concluding in these words— <4 «i yon do 
not send us relief we must surrender the garrison within six or 
days. We understand that the boom is certainly broken* so that you 
may come up with ease. Kirk, in the mean t'aie. heard their cries* 
and saw their signals of distress, without making the slightest eilort 
l© relieve them. 

On the same day that the letter of the Governor rnd citizens ot 
Derry had been written to the fleet, Colonel Cordon O'vdlk vvh© 




had Wffl $rt inhabitant of the city for some years before it trn* 
besieged, desired a conference with some of the officers of the gar¬ 
rison, anti Colonel Lance and Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell went out. 
to bio). Thov met on the strand near the callows, and there O’Neill 
informed! t!e>m that King James had sent instructions to Marshal Ro¬ 
sen, that if the city would surrender, all those who chose to go to 
their respective dwellings, should have liberty to do so, and that any 
lasses they should sustain would he made up to them by reprisals ; 
those who wo iM enter his army should he treated there without dis¬ 
tinction of religion, amt those who wished to go to England or Scot¬ 
land should Slave liberty to depart. To these proposals he required 
an answer on the eastsiog day; and in the moan time the enemy con- 
tinned to he busily employed in making their trenches, and coming 
still closer to the city. The counter-mining went on with equal per- 
severance on the part of the garrison,-encouraged by the indefatiga¬ 
ble pains amt expenditure of Captain Michael Cuningham and Mr. 
William Madty, who not only paid the soldiers out of their own 
pockets for the work, but, what was at this time a much greater sa* 
entire to the general safety of the city, gave many of them food at 
their own houses. There was also a collection made by way of free¬ 
will offering among the inhabitants to carry on this work, by wbi* h 
the enemy was kept from getting to the near side of tlse Bog, with¬ 
out which they could draw no mines. At this time one M‘Gi«npsoy 
called upon Colonel Murray, and volunteered to swim down thu 
Longli with intelligence to General Kirk. Murray, after consul*! g 
the Deputy-Governor, Mitchelburn, who seemed inclined to d< lag 
the messenger, promised him a reward, and dispatched him with a 
l/-tter signed by himself. Colonel Cairites, and Captain Gladstones, 
representing the great extremby to w hich they had been reduced, 
and most earnestly imploring a speedy relief. This letter was closely 
tied in a little bladder* in which two musquet,-balls were placed with 
it, that if the enemy should fake the messenger, be might break the 
string and let it fall in the water. Whether this unfortunate man was 
taken alive by the enemy, or was killed, as was reported, !>v being 
carried forcibly with the stream and tide against the boom, was not 
ascertained at the time, hut the latter is more probable, on account of 
the letter reaching Maresch&l de Rosen, who, in his dispatch to 
James, of the twenty-seventh of ibis month, gives the following ac¬ 
count of the transaction, and the contents of Mitchel burn’s letter:-- 
tc We have fished this morning a drowned man, who floated on the 
river with bladders about his arms. When he was taken up we dis¬ 
covered that he had come out of Derry to swim to the fleet.. We 
found in another bladder fastened to Ins neck, the three letters inclos¬ 
ed, by which vour Majesty may see in what state the town is now, 
and of what consequence it ts to binder the enemy from supplying i*. 

T presume, under these circumstances, to lake tlto liberty of repro- 
Beutrng to vour Majesty, that ' ou would have been master of tit* 


107 


town long ago, if my advice had been followed, which was, no-t to 
grant protections nor receive any person coming from the town, by 
which means they would the sooner consume their provisions, and he 
obliged to surrender themselves with the halter about their necks.” 

On the same day that this letter was written, Colonels Lance and 
Campbell made such a reply to Gordon O’Neill, as appears to have 
exasperated the French General, for ten shells were, on that night, 
thrown into the city. One of them fell upon Joseph Gallaghers 
house in Bishop-street, where two barrels of gun-powder were lodg¬ 
ed. It killed no less than fourteen persons, viz. six grenadiers be¬ 
longing to the regiment in which Captain Ash served, four horsemen, 
and four women. 


On the twenty-eighth the Irish army hung up the body of a man 
on a gallows, within view of the city, on the other side of the wa¬ 
ter, and called over to acquaint the garrison that it was the messen¬ 
ger whom they had sent towards the fleet. Colonels Fortescue and 
Blair went to the orchard where the camp lay to confer with Lord 
Louth, who, contrary to the position assigned to him in Neville’s 
map of the city, as besieged at this time, commanded the troops on 
the Prehen side of the river, in conjunction with Sir Neil O’Neill, 
whose regiment of dragoons had quarters there. Their errand was 
to treat with these officers concerning Mr. James Cromie, who had, 
as already noticed, come there with Iloche from the ships. Lord 
Louth and Sir Neil would not let him go, or exchange him for any 
other prisoner, so he remained in the Irish camp. On this day and 
night twenty shells were thrown into the city. They killed One man, 
two women and a child, and did severe execution upon the family of 
Alexander Poke, the undaunted gunner of Colonel Murray’s boat in 
the action of the preceding Tuesday week ; one of these fatal shells 
fell into his habitation, and killed his wife, his mother-in-law, and 
brother-in-law. 


This day Lord Melfort received two letters from Lord Dundee, 
with an account of the state of his master’s affairs in^Scctland ; in 
one of them is the following passage “ I am glad to hear by your 
Lordship’s letters that the King’s affairs prosper so well, and that 
Derry will soon he ours ; but 1 bear it was not on Monday last. I 
know not what the matter is, but I would think Mackey’s going south 
and the troops drawing backtiom Kintyre towards Edinburgh, would 
import some alarm which they have got. I have so often written over 
all the country that Derry was ours, that now, say what 1 like, they 
hardly believe me, and when 1 talk of relief out of Ireland they laugh 
at it, though i believe ore long they will find it earnest, and then our 
e ironies’ confusion will he great.” 

On the same day the Earl of Clancarty arrived with his regiment 
in the Irish camp, and being buoyed up by the Pasturini of the day, 


108 


v/ith r!ie ridiculous prophecy tliat the gate* of D'*rry should fly open? 
?,.) the approach of .Mac Cartymore, lost no more time in trying toe 
experiment than was necessary to get himself intoxicated with liquor, 
and at ten o’clock in the night, while the enemy kept up a heavy 
cannonade of bomb-shells, he attacked the works at the Butchers 
gate, and few of the garrison being out at the time, he soon possess¬ 
ed himself of them, although one of their own shells, which had 
missed its aim, fell among his men, and some of them were so cow¬ 
ardly as to rurt close under the walls for shelter from the shots tlr*y 
expected to be fired at them. The noise of the exploding shell alarm¬ 
ed the garrison, and the light of the combustibles, ignited and thrown 
about by it, discovered the assailants just as Clancarty, drunk as lie 
was, had entered some miners m a low cellar under the half-bastion, 
and a horseman at the Butchers’-gate had called for fire to burn it. 

Three Captains, Noble, Holmes, and Dunbar, with several other 
Gentleman, to the number of sixty and upwards, now sallied out at 
Bishop’s-gate, and crossing along the wall till they came very near 
the enemy’s guards, receiving their fire without stopping, advanced 
to a position which enabled them to fire with effect, and then thun¬ 
dered their shots against them. The case-shot from the ba-tion and 
small shot from the walls seconded the fire of the gallant Noble and 
his hand of heroes so effectually, that Lord Clancarty, finding he had 
been misled by more false spirits than one, got sober enough to quit 
his post and hasten to the main body of Iris superstitious friends, 
leaving his miners and one hundred of his best men dead upon the 
spot. Several of his officers and private-soldiers were wounded, and 
as it was reported to the garrison, died of the injury they received, in 
a few days after this action. The officers killed were, a French Lieu¬ 
tenant-Colonel, whose name was not ascertained, Captains McCarthy 
and O’Bryan, a French and an English Captain, and an English 
Lieutenant; Corporal Macguire and a private soldier were taken pri¬ 
soners. There was but one man killed and one wounded on the Deny 
side, in the sharp engagement of this night. It is only fair in this 
place to acknowledge, that the Irish army had no monopoly of super¬ 
stition at this period, when death, raging in varied shapes, tended 
to paralyze, while it terrified the human mind. If the besiegers be¬ 
lieved in the prophecy of the pyebald horse, and Clan (-arty’s magical 
rap at the Butchers’-gate, the besieged, according to a credible tradi¬ 
tion still preserved in the city, were fully assured that, at the hour of 
twelve o’clock every night, an Angel, mounted on a snow-white 
horse, and brandishing a sword of a bright colour, was seen to com¬ 
pass the city by land and water. 

Nine bombs were thrown into the city upon the twenty-ninth of 
this month. One of them fell in the old Church, raised five bodies 
from their graves, and threw one of them over the wall. Their scafr- 


?*recl remains were immediately re-interred, by a subscription from a 
few gentlemen. During a parley this day, one of the garrison was 
killed at the outside of ButchevVgaie, and another on the wall. 

On the last day of June Governor Henry Baker died ; his death 
was a sensible loss to the besieged, as he was a valiant man, shewing, 
says Walker, in all bis actions the greatest honour, courage, and 
conduct. Mackenzie observes, he was a great loss to the garrison, by 
whom he ans justly lamented, his prudent and lesojute conduct, hav¬ 
ing given him a great interest among them. Captain Ash represents 
him as a gentleman greatly beloved, and very well qualified for the 
government, being endued with great patience and moderation, free 
from envy or malice, as appeared In the affair between him and Mitcb- 
tdburn, whom lie recommended to be his successor. He was buried 
in one of the vaults under the Church, the pall being- borne by the 
Governors Walker and hlitchelbufn, Colonels Lance and Campbell, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, and Colonel Monro. The Rev. Seth. 
Whittel, Rector of Ballyscullen, preached his funeral sermon. 

• A »• . • % 4 ." # 

On,this day, being Sunday, Rosen sent a declaration into Deny, 
that if the garrison Would not surrender to him before six o’clock in 
the ensiling evening, he would drive the protected and unprotected 
Protestants from Enniskillen to Charlemont, under their walls, and 
that in case of their hot then suirendering, he would make .a general 
assault upon them, and put them to the sword without respect to ago 
or sex. He threatened also to burn and lay waste the country if there 
should appear the least probability of troops coming to their relief. 
He also wrote a letter to James this day, with a copy of lus declara¬ 
tion ’against the Protestants cf a considerable part of Lister, and 
stated that he was induced to adopt this measure, from the little hope* 
he bad of reducing the garrison in any other way. J he trench, s he 
said were so filled both by the tide and the continual rains, that the 
besieging army was in danger of being destroyed by sickness. the 
Liter is evidently an intemperate one, and by an independent Prim e 
would be construed as an affront. Anticipating a countermand of the 
cruel order he was about to issue, he threatened to 1 resign the com¬ 
mand of the army incase bis project should not be approved; and it 
appears from Charles Leslie’s reply to Archbishop King’s account of 
this transaction, that the Irish General Hamilton bad a serious cliff* r- 
ence of opinion with the French Commandant 1 'on this "occasion hi 
which almost every other officer in the besieging army joined the 

.. ... * •> ,» •> S, -' •« f, ' . il 

tonner. 

Rosen’s proposal was received in Derry with contempt, not an- 
mingled with indignation, which produced some beat and disorder im 
the irascible Marescbal, to which lie gave immediate vent by a re¬ 
newal of the bombardment on the next morning, when twenty shells 
v. ere thrown into the city ; one of these fell upon the steeple ot the 


HO 


Cathedral, and rolled down among the bells, doing l»ut little damage ; 
another struck the turrets and .broke the leads. Rosen now issued Ids 
barbarous order, dated July 1st, 1689, in which he was unmanly 
enough to order the officers under his command to wage war against 
women and children. “ As I have certain information,” he says, 
“ that a considerable number of the wives and children of the rebels in 
Londonderry, have retired to Belfast and the neighbouring places, 
and as the hardiness of their husbands and fathers deserves the sever¬ 
est chastisements, I write this letter to acquaint you, that you are in- 
star ly to make an exact research in Belfast and its neighbourhood, 
aft r subjects as are rebellious to the will of the King, whether 
men, wg^fn, boys, or girls , without exception, and whether they 
arc protected or unprotected, to arrest them and collect them toge¬ 
ther, that they may he conducted by a detachment to this camp, and 
driven under the walls of Londonderry, where they shall he allowed 
to starve, in sight of the rebels within the town, unless they choose to 
open their ports to them,” &c. &c. In another paragraph of the 
same order he desires that infants should be included, and that none 
of any age whatever should be suffered to escape. 

On the second of this month the Derry-mon replied, they Lad read 
the Mareschafs threatening letter in their families, and had taken great 
offence at its contents, by which they could understand that no arti¬ 
cles or capitulation could he made with him ; that his avowed inten¬ 
tion of breaking the protections already granted, proved that no per¬ 
formance of any new promises could he expected from him. They 
also observed, that the copy of the commission granted to Rosen was 
dated on the first day of the preceding month of May, after which 
time a Parliament had passed an act in Dublin, by which their lives 
and properties had been declared to be forfeited, and that, therefore, 
they did not consider him duly authorised to treat with them, and de¬ 
sired he would procure another commission. 

Upon receiving this answer, Rosen caused his orders to be put into 
execution, and beginning with the Protestants in the immediate 
neighbourhood, had them collected in all directions into chuiches and 
other public buildings, and some of them into dirty pounds and rotten 
houses, without fire or light, after having been plundered of their le- 
maining substance and stripped of their clothes. Many old and ten¬ 
der people, some women with child, and feeble children, died by the 
cruel usage they experienced in these places < f confinement, and on 
their way to Derry. The Irish officers employed in this melancholy 
service, executed these orders with tears in their eyes, and many of 
them declared that the cries of these victims of cruelty seemed to ring 
in their ears ever afterwards. General Hamilton was so shocked at the 
sight, that in defiance of Rosen, his commanding officer, he ordered 
meal and other provisions to he distributed among the wretched croupes 
as they passed through the Irish camp. When they first came in sight 


Ill 


vA' the city, they were mistaken for a column of the besieging army 
advancing to storm it, and to add to their terrors, they were received 
by a volley of small shot from their friends on the walls, hut providen¬ 
tially none were injured by any of the shots, which had no other ef¬ 
fect than killing three of the soldiers who were driving them forward 
with their swords, and pushing on those who, from excessive weak¬ 
ness, were falling behind, or tottering on their emaciated limbs, i he 
first division consisted of some thousands, and the compassion they 
excited in the garrison venting itself in a universal burst of rage, a 
gallows was immediately erected for the execution of all the prisoners 
in the city. In the mean time the news of Rosen’s barbarous pro¬ 
ceeding flew to the metropolis, and Doctor Anthony Dopping, Bi¬ 
shop of Meath, went immediately to James to prevail on him to re¬ 
scind the cruel order ; the unfortunate Prince coldly replied, that I e 
had heard of it before, and had sent orders to prevent its being exe¬ 
cuted, and apologizing for Rosen’s foreign habits, observed, that this 
practice, though strange in Ireland, was common in other places, and 
he might have added, that this persecutor, whom lie unwisely con¬ 
tinued in his service after this act of barbarous folly, had been em¬ 
ployed by the French King to dragoon the Protestants of Languedoc, 
whom he treated with unparalleled cruelty. General Maumont was 
his colleague in that anti-christian campaign. The letter counter¬ 
manding the driving of the Protestants before Londonderry, was dat¬ 
ed on the third of July, and while it required that they should he sent 
back to their respective habitations without injury, jesuiiieally appris¬ 
ed of the pillaging and ravaging of tlie country in such a way, as to 
leave them no habitations to receive them, or means of subsistence to 
keep them from perishing by hunger. In the mean time the garn&on 
sent a unipet to the enemy, with notice that they would permit some 
Popish Priests to come into the city to prepare the prisoners in their 
own way for that death which inevitably awaited them if the Protes¬ 
tant multitudes around the walls were not permitted to depart. No 
notice was taken of this message, and the unhappy prisoners, acknow¬ 
ledging the justice of the retaliation of which they were to be the vic¬ 
tims, wrote a moving letter to General Hamilton, imploring him to 
represent their sad condition to Lieutenaut-General De Rosen, to 
whom they bad qiade an application without receiving any answer.— 
They stated their willingness to die like soldiers, w ith swords in their 
hands, but entreated that they should be spared the ignominious deadi 
of malefactors. The letter was subscribed by another person for L» s J 
Netterville, who had lost some of the fingers of his right hand in the 
engagement in which he was taken prisoner. It was also signed by 
Sir Garret Aylmer, the Hon. Captain Butler, Mr. Newcomen and 
some others, in the name of the rest of the prisoners. Hamilton re¬ 
plied, by order of his commanding officer, that the Protestants driven 
under the walls of the city had to thank themselves for that misfor¬ 
tune; that they had conditions offered to them which they might have 


1 


accepted; that if the Irish prisoners should suffer for tliis it could not 
be helped, hut that their death would he revenged on many thousands, 
'i he writer here confounds those without the walls with their friends 
within; no terms had been offered to the former; hut it is difficult 
to write an um andid letter with precision. The garrison was this 
night reduced to the number of rive thousand, seven hundred, aud 
nine men. 


On the second of this month iho prisoners taken in the Irish boat 
by Colonel Murray on the eighteenth of June, were sent to bury 
those who had been killed at the wind-mill and the hog, nearly a 
month before. This delay in burying the dead must -have contributed 
much to im tease the sickness, which now began to prove dreadfully 
fatal both to the besieged and the besiegers. The prisoners, who vverfc 
of Clancarty’s regiment, performed this unpleasant duty, and returned 
to their place of confinement in the new gate. 

About this time Mr. Andrew Robinson left the city? but on ac- 
count of some imprudent words he spoke among them, the enemy 
stripped him and sent him back again. Captain M ilharn Beatty, who, 
in all the encounters and skirmishes with the enemy, had ever be¬ 
haved himself with great integrity and valour, was also obliged, by a 
violent dysentery, to. accept of a protection from the enemy, and he 
retired to Moneyinore. In this neighbourhood lie lived to rear twelve 
sons to manhood, one of whom was Mr. James Beatty, a merchant in 
Is 1 ewry, and another Vincent, the father of the late Ross Beatty, of 
Clones, m the County of Monaghan, and of the late Air. James 
Beatty, of the W aterside of Londonderry. ,,, 


On the third day of this month one thousand was added to the 
number of the at Hi c ted Rrotestants driven under the walls. Many of 
them were taken into the garrison by their friends,. contrary to orders, 
and relieved with food and clothing. One of these delivered a rues-* 
»i::ge to rile city from Kirk’s fleet, desiring the garrison, if in great lie-* 
cessity, to make tv. o fires upon the Church, which was instantly done, 
aud they were kept burning during the whole of the. night, iu the 
course of which and the day preceding- it, thirty bomb-shells were 
•thrown into the city. One of these fell into the chimney of the house 
in which Captain Ash was quartered ; it broke-open the heart!), threw 
down some partitions, windows and doors, but did no other injury, 
'i he besieged took the opportunity which presented itself this day, to- 
crowd five hundred of their useless people among the Protestants un* 
der the walls, and to supply their place took in some young and able- 
bodied men. r i he stratagem succeeded, although the enemy sus- 
pected the design, and some of them protended to distinguish the* 
Derry -men by .’.at smell which proceeds from those who have leeu- 
k ng in confinement, without the necessary change of garment*. 

About tliio time a jmmerous auxl well appointed army from the pro- 


vmce of Munster, under the command of Justin MTaiiy, lately*' 
created Lord Viscount Mouritcashel, arrived at 13elturl>et, where it; 
was joined bv a body of Northern Papists, commanded by Cohonaght 
M ore Maguire. This united force amounted in number to 7,000 
men, who, according to a preconcerted j)lan, were to attack tlie Ennis- 
killeners on the south, while Sarsfield, with another army, pressed 
oil them from the west, and the Duke of Berwick, who lay en¬ 
camped at Trillick, came upon them from tlie North. An account, 
however, came to them on the third of the month, from General 
Kirk, which tended to revive their spirits at a time, when their ene¬ 
mies had reason to suppose that, being 1 encompassed as it were in a 
net, ail possibility of escape was cut, oft* from them. A ship had been 
sent round from Longli-S\villy to Ballyshannon, for the purpose of as¬ 
certaining the wants of the garrison at Enniskillen, and to offer them a 
supply of ammunition or any other necessaries. This was a most ac¬ 
ceptable message, for although the soldiers there were tolerably weH 
supplied with arms, from the stores which they had taken from Colo¬ 
nel Sutherland, yet they had hut little gun-poivder, an article indis- 
pensahleto their safety at this time. Colonel Lloyd, Captain Francis 
Gore, and Hugh Montgomery, with the Rev. Andrew Hamilton, 
were sent on the fourth of July with some troops of horse and com¬ 
panies of foot, to guard vvhat ammunition they should get, and to 
give Captain Hobson, the commander of the vessel, an account of 
the state and condition of their town, and tlie country about it. This 
day, in the absence of Mr. Hamilton, the Duke of Berwick came to 
his dwelling-house with two regiments of foot and as many regiment 3 
of dragoons; they plundered and burned it to the ground, and then 
destroyed all the houses of his tenantry, expressing their regret at 
not having found himself, “to make meat of his flesh for their hawks,” 
in revenge for the horses which had been taken from them at Omagh 
some time before, as they alleged by his contrivance. This was a. 
surprise upon the EnniskiHenners, in the absence of their gallant Lloyd 
and a considerable proportion of their force. The Governor came on 
the same night to Air. Hamilton’s ruined habitation, after tlie enemy 
had gone from it, and his party not being strong enough to follow and 
attack them in their quarters, lie returned to Enniskillen, ordering* 
strong guards to be kept on ail thejroads from Trillick to that town. 

In the mean time a promiscuous crowd of unfortunate Protestants lay 
in a state of extreme misery around the walls of Londonderry, and 
whilst famine and disease preyed upon their vitals, such was the spirit 
which animated tliem, that they raised their faltering voices to their 
friends upon the'walls,'desiring them not to regard their sufferings, 
but to permit them to perish rather than surrender themselves to the 
mercy of a perfidious foe. 

Great animosities now arose in the Irish camp on account of this 
cruel treatment of tlie protected Protestants. The few of that per-. 


Scansion in thr> army resented it highly, while almost all the Romish 
officers condemned it, as a base device of tlieir French allies, whom 
diev began to detest, in resentment for the contemptuous treatment 
they received from them. These circumstances, with James’s letter 
eomfonming the order, and above all, the view of the gallows erected 
on the walls of the-city for the execution of the Irish prisoners, oblig¬ 
ed Rosen, on the fourth of July* to suffer the afflicted multitude, 
amounting to more than four thousand in number, to depart for their 
respective habitations. Several hundreds of them, however, died ou 
the spot to which they had been driven, and among them many wo¬ 
men with child, or lately delivered; several old distressed creatures, 
and a great number of children. Of those who were this day liberat¬ 
ed from durance, many died on their way home, or were knocked on 
the head by the soldiers, and those who got back to their former place 
of dwelling, found their homes either burned or plundered by Rosen’s 
goldiers or the Irish rapparees, so that a great proportion of them af¬ 
terwards perished for want of the necessaries of life. 

This violation of protections was not confined to the persons who 
had been thus driven under the walls of Londonderry ; many of the 
Inhabitants of the county of Down, though they had purchased pro¬ 
tections and lived inoffensively, were plundered of all their substance, 
and to complete tlieir misery, the Irish soldiers violated several of 
their wives and daughters. Chi complaint being made of these bru¬ 
tal outrages, the answer they received was, that these robbers and ra- 
yishers had no authority for what they had done, and that any further 
attempt they should make might be opposed by force. Satisfied with 
this answer, the unhappy sufferers resolved to defend themselves as 
they had been permitted to do, but happening to kill some of their 
assailants, they were immediately denounced as rebels, and Major-Ge¬ 
neral Buchan was sent against them with a body of troops. A massa¬ 
cre ensued, which lasted for several days, in the course of which five 
ifrr six hundred of them were killed in cold blood. Many of the vic¬ 
tims were poor aged and weakly people ; some killed at tlieir w ork, 
when suspecting no danger near them. A representation was made 
of this cruel proceeding to James at his Court in Dublin, but so far 
from resenting it or ordering the perpetrators of the massacre to he 
punished, he railed against the Protestants in general, as false perfi¬ 
dious rebels. They have been killed, he said, with my protections in 
tlieir pockets; words inconsiderately spoken, for who could after¬ 
wards set any value upon these protections, or treat with him on the 
usual terms of civilized warfare? 


As soon as the Protestants were removed by the besionfinsr army 
from the neighbourhood of Londonderry, the garrison took doWn the 
gallows they had erected, and the prisoners in the city were sent 
back to tlieir respective lodgings.- At this time Governor Walker got 
intimation from a i.icml in the enemy’s camp, that some mischief was 


115 


intended against him, and lie soon afterwards discovered that the sol¬ 
diers had been persuaded not only that be bad secreted a considerable 
quantity of provisions, which ought to have been sent to the public 
store, but that he had pledged himself, on the promise of some great 
preferment, to betray the city to the enemy. 


With respect to the first of these charges, he readily refuted it, by 
causing a strict search to he made in his house ; and as to the second, 
he cast off the foul imputation, by arresting a Mr. Cole, who, in the 
preceding month of May, had obtained leave to pass from the enemy’s 
camp into the city, by taking charge of a proposal from General Ha¬ 
milton to Mr. Walker, which he never delivered, his object in bearing 
it being only to effect bis escape. Cole had casually mentioned tins 
circumstance in the garrison, and Walker’s enemies magnified it into 
a plot for surrendering the city. They indicated their suspicions to 
the Governor by saluting him by high names and titles, whenever 
they met him, and would probably have kindled a dangerous mutiny 
in the garrison, had not Cole, on his public examination, unriddled 
the mystery, and restored the confidence of the men of Londonderry 
in their faithful Governor. In the mean time the guards upon the 
out-works had several conferences with parries of the enemy, who 
frequently expressed their utter detestation of the French officers and 
soldiers, cursing the fellows who walked in trunks, as they called 
their jack-boots, and got all the preferments 'which were disposed of in 
the army. 

From the first of this month to the termination of the siege, the 
officers on duty in the city were appointed to assemble in four several 
parts of it, and remain there all night. The Colonels, Majors, and 
Captains, at Governor Mitchelhurn’s ; the Lieutenants at Mr. Bu¬ 
chanan’s; the Ensign’s at the Bishop’s ; and the serjeants at Mr. Stew¬ 
art’s. They went their rounds by turns, and the soldiers of each 
coinoanv staid at their quarters, except such as were absent on out- 
vuanls,"with their clothes and arms, standing in rank round the quar¬ 
ters, and a candle burning all night. The officers were allowed can¬ 
dles, tobacco, pipes, and Adam’s ale, as Captain Asb eall$ the water 
they drank ; and at four o’clock every morning two great guns were 
tired against the enemy, serving at the same time as a signal, that the 
regulars who were on duty during the night might retire to rest, and 
that their places should be taken by the volunteers and unenlisted in¬ 
habitants, to remain on the wall till seven o’clock. 


Nino shells were thrown inlothe city on the fifth of July, which in¬ 
jured some houses, and raised a few dead bodies from their graves.—- 
About the sixth or seventh, Governor Mitchelburn observing but few 
men about the camp of the besiegers, drew out a body of the garrison 
beyond the lines at the wind-mill, where they had some skirmish¬ 
ing-with the enemy, in which action an Irish Colonel was mortally 
wounded, but night Coming on, and the sal]iers having got into some 


i i(3 


confusion* ffom mistaking a word of command, they retired back to 
the city. A loud huzza was about this time beard in all the camps 
of the enemy round the city, and care was taken to inform the besieg¬ 
ed that it was for joy on the taking of Enniskillen. This, however, 
was one of the many false reports circulated by an enemy depending' 
upon artifice and fraud, rather than valour and skill, for the attain¬ 
ment of their purposes ; the men of Enniskillen, so far from surren¬ 
dering, were at this time strengthening themselves by conveying to their 
Stores thirty barrels of gunpowder, with some arms, from the ship Bonad- 
venture, commanded by Capt,. Hobson, and sent to their relief by Ge- * 
neral Kirk. The arms they left in the garrison of Ballysbannon, and 
sent the Re’/. Andrew Hamilton and Mr. John Rider, in the Bonad- 
venture, to the English fleet, for the purpose of obtaining more am¬ 
munition, together with some experienced officers, and a reinforce¬ 
ment of common soldiers. 

Mareschal De Rosen wrote the following fetter this day to the un¬ 
fortunate Prince his master, exhibiting a description of the wretched¬ 
ness of the besieging army at this time :— 

“ Cam]) before Londonderry, 5th July, 1689. 

<£ SirB—I am grieved to see so little attention given to the execution of your 
Majesty’s orders, at a time when matters are become troublesome and embar¬ 
rassed. Kirk is always at his post, waiting the arrival of three regiments of ca¬ 
valry and two of infantry, which are to join him under the command of Charles- 
Count Schomberg. 7 here is no doubt but this expectation has kept him from 
making any attempt to throw provisions into Derry, as he might easily have done - 
by hazarding some vessels for that end ; yet your troops which have been lately 
sent, have arrived almost in the same condition with the former, having been 
obliged to take such arms with them as were given them, the greater part of 
which are damaged and broken, and accordingly useless, as YOU HAVE NOT I.V 
ALL YO JR ARMY A SINGLE GUN-SMITH TO MEND THEM ! 

“ The troops which are here with Hamilton, are in a still worse condition, 
and the regiments entirely lost and ruined; the strongest battalion having but 
two hundred men, and more than two-thirds of them without swords, belts, or 
bandaliers. The cavalry and dragoons are not the better that they are more nu¬ 
merous, as the strongest company has not more than twelve or fourteen troopers 
able to serve. The river which divides your army, and prevents a communica¬ 
tion, diminishes its strength considerably. The detachment under the Duke of 
of Berwick’s command, being more than thirty miles from this place, weakens 
it entirely, as he cannot leave the post which he has been obliged to take, with¬ 
out allowing the Enniskilleners to possess it, and shut us up behind. All this, 
Sire, together with the embarrassment of the artillery and carriages which are 
here, with very little means of conveying them in a country where one is ne¬ 
cessarily obliged to go by the one road, which is very bad, should now in¬ 
duce your Majesty to adopt s measure which is of the utmost consequence 
to the good of your service. It is only for this reason I humbly beseech you 
to consider this maturely, and to send me instantly your orders about what we 
should do, as I had already the honour to ask by my two last letters, to which I 
have yet received no answ’er. 

“ I cannot comprehend how the regiment of Walter Butler could be sent away 
from Dublin without swords and without powder and ball. I am still more sur¬ 
prised that Bagnal’s regiment has been employed to escort the treasure, without 
giving them a single shot, although, as the Officers told me, they frequently atk- 


117 


£il> withcmt being able to obtain any; yet, Sire, they both of them marched ttva 
days quite close to the garrison of Enniskillen, in danger of falling a prey tp 
them. The garrison of Belturbet is in the same situation, having had, as Su¬ 
therland told me, but little powder, and not a single ball. My heart bleeds. 
Sire, when I reflect on the continuance' of this negligence, since it appears to 
me, that no one is in pain about the ruin of your affairs. I hope that the re¬ 
turn of thisexprees will bring me your Majesty’s ultimate orders ; and I wish 
they may arrive in time enough forme to put them properly in execution ; having 
no other object but to show you my zeal and attachment for your service; be¬ 
cause I am* with a very profound respect, submission, and loyalty, your Majes¬ 
ty’s, &c. &c. &c. * ‘‘ CONIIAD De ROSEN.” 

Six bombs were thrown on ihc next day into Londonderry; and they 
killed one man and wounded many others,' On Sunday the seventh 
eighteen shells fell within the walls, and it was observed that until this 
time no shells were thrown upon the $abbatji, although the enemy, 
in other respects, according to their French and Irish habits, regarded 
it very little. On the eighth they discharged fourteen bombs at tho 
city, one of which broke an Ensign’s" leg at the Butchers’-gate. 
ball, weighing fourteen pounds, passing through the gate, killed a 
man in the street; lathe course of this night the Governors ordered 
large pieces of timber to be reared against the outside of the gate, to 
Secure it against the battering pieces. The garrison was now reduced 
to live thousand, five hundred, and twenty men, having lost within 
the six preceding days, no less than one hundred and eighty-nine men 
by death, or departure from the city. On the ninth the battering guns 
played hotly against the Butchers’-gate, and shattered it very much. 
Some of the balls flew over the town and fell into the river. In the 
course of the night more timber was set up outside this gate, and all 
the officers who vverfe there assisted the soldiers and others in carrying 
sods to it from Ferryquay-gate. The allowance this day was a pound 
of tallow, dignified by the name of French butter, to every soldier in 
the garrison. They mixed it with meal, ginger, pepper, and aniseeds, 
and made excellent pan-cakes. Charming meat, says Captain Ash, 
for during the preceding fortnight horse-flesh was eaten, and at this 
tune the carcase of a dog was reckoned good meat. The pale and 
emaciated victims of hunger were every day seen collecting wild vege¬ 
tables and weeds, and all kinds of sea-wreck, which they devoured 
gyeedily, to the total ruin of their health. 7 The historical drama al¬ 
ready quoted/ exhibits a scene in the distressed city at this time, calcu¬ 
lated to make a deep and inciAncholy impression on the mind, and cha¬ 
racterizing the good humour with which some of the severest sufferings 
of human nature were borne by the heroic defenders of Londonderry. 

A servant entering sets down a table, and placing two or three dishes 
on it, brings chairs for the company, which consists of Mitchelburn, 
Walker, and four Amazons, who had distinguished themselves by ma¬ 
ny acts of heroism during the siege, Mitchelburn then addresses theifi 
jn the following words 


Ci Ladies ami Gentlemen, this present coming so opportunely, T invite you all 
to a bottle of wine sent to me by General Hamilton, together with such other 
entertainment for eating as our present circumstances will admit of. The first 
dish you see in slices is the liver of one of the enemy’s horses that was killed the 
other day; it is very good meat with pepper and salt, eaten cold. I have seven 
of these livers boiled, and after they are pickled they eat very well. This other 
is horses blood fried with French butter, otherwise tallow, and thickened with 
oaten-meal. The third dish is what we call in French ragout de chien, in Eng¬ 
lish a ragout of the haunch of my dog ; it does not eat so well boiled as roasted ; 
it is something strong, but it eats best when baked. I have a horse’s head in the 
oven, very well seasoned, but it will not be eatable until night. Give me a glass 
of wine, and I'll drink the ladies 5 health.— (Amazon pulls half a biscuit out of 
her pocket.) 

Amazon —“ Pray Sir accept of this ; it was given to me this morning by our 
Captive captain.” 

Mitchelburn —“ By no means Madam ; I’ll not rob you of so great a dainty.” 

Enter a servant with a letter from Lord Berkshire, which the Governor reads. 

“ Sm—Mareschal De Rosen and Lieutenant-General Hamilton highly ap¬ 
prove of your conduct. They made choice of me, as an acquaintance of your's, 
to send you this letter, to let you know that they are very sensible of the ill cir¬ 
cumstances you are in, and so unfortunate as to engage in a service which will 
prove your utter ruin. You have now a fair opportunity to retrieve your former 
mistakes, and prove loyal; and Mareschal De Rosen and General Hamilton and 
myself, will engage you shall have a suitable reward, and good preferment, which 
is to put Londonderry into our hands, it having retarded the great success of his 
Majesty’s arms both in England and Scotland. Let this be speedily complied 
with, your proposals shall be readily granted, and sent back signed and sealed 
by both Generals, ten thousand pounds in bills, to bf. paid you either in 
England or Ireland, ior this great service. “BERKSHIRE.” 

Governor—“ I'll send an answer to this immediately.” 

Bits down and writes, and afterwards reads his answer. 

“ Sir—I perused vour’s, and am very much obliged to Mareschal De Rosen 
and General Hamilton, for their good opinion of my conduct; if theirs had been 
as good they would have been masters of this town long since. It is our great 
happiness to meet with such an easy enemy. I very well know of what import¬ 
ance the place is to the Protestants of Ireland, and to my master, King William, 
whom I now serve ; he is .capable of rewarding me, and those under mv com¬ 
mand, without paying us in brass money. As for the'ten thousand pounds, 
I value them not a pin, and if your King would give me the Church full of gold 
aiul silver, 1 will never betray my country’s cause. I have engaged my honour 
for the performance, and my word of honour I will keep.—Farewell. 

“JOHN MITCHELBURN.” 

■Enter a Servant. —“ Here, Sir, is a letter from General Kirk, on ship-hoard. 
All tilings go well in England, and for God’s sake husband your provisions 
well, and you will be relieved in a short time.” 

Mitchelburn —“ Campbell go and write as melancholy a letter as you can ; let 
the Major-General know we aie starving, and nothing left us but a few horses. 
Which will not last above a week; when they are eaten we shall be destroyed. 
Tell him, as be reveres his own honour and reputation, not to suder us to be 
lost for a little bread.” 

Enter two soldiers, running across the stage, holding a spaniel dog bp the two 
* hind legs. 

Mitchelburn —“What’s that the soldiers have ?” 

Tonm Major —“ A dog, which they are going to eat.” 

XL'itcheiburn —“ I took it to be a kid ; it made my teeth to water.” 

Lnter another soldier with a cab—he runs across the stage, making her cry. 


119 


W.cilker —Those soldiers hunt up and clown the town for dogs and cat;., ns 
eats do for mice.” 


Enter another soldier with Miiqhclburn s mastiff -dog on his bach, suspended bp Iks 

two hind legs. 


MUchelbum —“ Hold brother soldier : vou should give me some share of that 
dog. —f The Governor whistles, the soldier drops the dog, and both run away. ) 
Sure the dogs must be very poor, for the people can get nothing to eat, and what 
must feed the dogs?” 

Town-Major —“ The dogs go in the night, and tear up the graves ; they feed 
on the dead bodies which t alien them extremely, and as soon as they are fat we 
eat them. We have an excellent way of dressing them, seasoned with pepper 
and salt, and baking the iiosh with decayed wine which we get in the merchants’’ 
Cellars. ” 

iv t Uchdbitrn—“ Alas that gold cannot procure us bread ! These soldiers have 
eaten all the dogs and cats in the tow n, and if not immediately relieved, we must 
give up the prisoners to be devoured by them next: — Better would it be for them 
to he eaten at once, than to lie languishing and starving in a dungeon. We have 
gold enough, but what does it signify, it would not afford us one morsel bi’bread. 
—f lie laices out his purpund puts a piece of gold in his mouth.) There is no relish 
or comfort in it, more than in a stone ; a piece of leather has more sustenance ; 
yet tin’s is what the world admires, and by which it is governed.”—< Tabes out 
his purse and throws it against the icull.J 


This day Bryan Macmahen and Hugh Maemahon wore elected 
members of the pretended House of Commons for the county of Mu* 
nagitan. Fermanagh sent no members-to it, and Sir Albeit Conyng- 
iuun, then resident on his estate at Mount-Charies, kept the Papists of 
the county of Donegal, in such order that no members were sent from 
any part of it except St. Johnstown* then garrisoned by James’s army : 
Sir YYm. Ellis and Lieut.-Colonel James Nugent, two gentlemen en¬ 
tirely unconnected with the county, were elected to represent that 
borough. Sir Albert Convnghaiu raised a regiment of dragoons at his 
own expense, which did good service in the course of the war, but was 
not engaged in the defence of Londonderry or Enniskillen. 

On the morning of the tenth of July, ten shells were thrown into 
Londonderry ; some of them fell into the old church and opened many 
of the graves, In one of them which is now in the possession of VV il- 
liam Marshall, E>p. Secretary to t he North-West Society, there was 
no gunpowder; it contained several copies of the following addiess ;— 

44 TO THE SOLDIERS AND INHABITANTS OF DERRY. 


4< The conditions offered by Lieutenant^eneral Hamilton are sincere. T!ie 
power be bath of the King is real ; be no longer imposed upon, by such as tell 
you the contrary ; you cannot be ignorant of the King’s clemency towards his 
subjects. Such of you as chu.se to serve his Majesty shall be emertainod, without 
distinction, in point of religion. If any choose to leave the kingdom they shall 
lime passe*. You shall be restored to your estates and livings, and have tree li- 
beity of religion whatsoever it be. If you doubt the powers given to General 
Hamilton by the King, tw enty of you may come and see the patent, with lievdcm 
under the King's hand and seal. I>e not obstinate against your natural Trim*. ; 
expose yourselves no longer to the miseries you undergo, which will grow v- oi .« 
ami worse if you continue to beopinionute ; for it will be too late to accept of ii.-e 
offer now made, when your condition is so lew, that you cannot resist die King s 
forces longer.—July TUth, ividi.” . , 


No reply was made to this proposal. This day Rosen wrote to the 
deluded Prince ; informing him that he had received eighty waggon*, 
five of which were loaded with swords without belts, and observing that 
the soldieis would be obliged to carry them constantly in their hands. 
The other waggons were loaded with powder, ball, &c. and twenty 
thousand pounds in silver. This convoy was sent from Dublin to Lon¬ 
donderry, escorted only by a quarter-master and twelve troopers, and 
it lay for three nights within sight of Enniskillen. On the same day a 
regiment of Irish infantry, with some Scottish officers embarked at Car- 
rickfergus in three frigates, commanded by Monsieur de Quesne, who 
in a few flours afterwards, meeting with two privateers, captured them, 
pfter an hour’s hard lighting, with the loss of some of the Scotch officers, 
who were killed. De Quesne putting some of his equipage on board 
one of them, sent it to Dublin, and proceeded on his course for Scot¬ 
land, where he safely landed the men he had on board, and ibis rein¬ 
forcement, small as it was, proved a great encouragement to Lord 
Dundee, in raising’the Highlanders to make one great effort in the 
cause of the unfortunate James. Hie French officer who commanded 
the t wo prizes, sent by Du Quesne to Dublin, captured another on his 
passage, which had been employed to carry letters from Marshal Schom- 
berg to General Kirk and other persons. l>y these letters, it appeals 
that King W illiain intended to send an army of twelve thousand men 
fortfte relief of Londonderry, upon which the following observation iti 
made in the life of James II.:— 


“ Effectual order will be taken that this descent shall not find us unprovided ^ 
for Deny is vigorously attacked, and Kirk, seeing that he could got no succour 
into the place, has landed at a little Island three miles distant from it, where he 
is intrenched in expectation of succour from England. In the mean time, the 
rebels at Enniskillen are straitened on all sides, and the Duke of Berwick, in a 
little rencounter he had lately with them, has cut two companies of fool to pieces, 
am! taken several prisoners.” 

L 


The latter part of this passage contains a specimen of the many false¬ 
hoods and exaggerations, conveyed to the ear of this deluded Prince, 
by the hordes of flatterers surrounding him ; this cutting of two compa¬ 
nies to pieces, as already mentioned, was but the killing of tive-and- 
twenty men, and the wounding of some others, with the loss of twen¬ 
ty-six - prisoners, by the Enniskilleners, in what they termed the’actioi* 
of Corenegrade, on or about the seventh of July. 


The besieging army demanding a parley with the defenders of Lon¬ 
donderry, on die eleventh of July, the latter thought it advisable to 
grant it, and treat for a surrender of the cit y. Most of the ships they 
expected to relieve them had disappeared, provisions were growing ex¬ 
tremely scarce, and therefore, it was an object to gain time by the 
negociation. .Six Commissioners were chosen on ea< h side, and Sa¬ 
turday the thirteenth was appointed as the day of meeting for arranging 
the terms of the treaty. Colonel Hugh Hamiil, and Thomas Laru e, 
Captains White arul Dobbin, Matthew Cocken, Esq. anil Mr. John 


Mackenzie, were appointed Commissioners on tlie part of the cifv ; 
Colonels Sheldon, Gordon O'Neill, and Sir Neill O’Neill, and Sir 
Kdxvard Yaudry, Lieutenant-Colonel Skelton, and Captain Francis 
Morrow, were nominated on the Irish side. While this matter was 
occupying- the attention of the ofiicers and chief men of the cit y, a hall 
came through one of the pieces of timber which barricadoed the out¬ 
side of Butchers’-gate, and killed a man in the street. In the evening the 
Governors drew’five or six out of each company, and sent them to¬ 
wards a trench near the gallon’s, to alarm the enemy, and ascertain if 
there were any great number of them in the camp. On perceiving 
this movement, General Buchan led his men down to the ditches at 
the gallows, which he lined with them, as those who had sallied from 
the city were approaching with colours flying ; upon which Governor 
Mitchelburn commanded his men to retire within the trendies, hut 
not before some of the enemy came over the ditches and fired a fWv 
shots at them. This detachment from the city did not behave with 
the spirit which characterized every other body of men that sallied from 
it during the siege. After a short pause, they dropped off one after 
another towards Bishop's-gate, nor would they or any of them return 
to the position they had left, notwithstanding the orders of the Go¬ 
vernors or their officers, hut stood pushing and thronging each other 
at the gate, which was kept shut for a long time, in order to force them 
to go back. All efforts to compel them to do so proved ineffectual, 
and they got into the city, in a most unsoldier like manner. 1 his 
night four shells fell in the citv, but did no damage. In this and the 
two preceding days, the report of several pieces of cannon in Lougu- 
Swilly, excited a strong sensation of hope in the distressed city. 

Next day being the twelfth of July, the inside of Butchers’-gate 
was secured by heaps of sods and stones, to repel the halls from tlie 
heavy battery which almost constantly assailed it. An Ensign and 
thirteen Irish, prisoners were humanely liberated this evening, who, 
while their guards were weak with hunger, had been in danger of 
losing their lives from tlie same dreadful cause. This day the Rev. 
Andrew Hamilton and Mr. John Rider arrived at the English fleet, 
and went on board Major-General Kirk’s vessel. They spent two 
Rays with that officer, giving him an account of the state of affairs at 
Enniskillen, in which, at that time, were about seventeen troops of 
horse, thirty companies of foot, and some few troops of dragoons. The 
foot were tolerably well armed, which was not the case with the horse 
and dragoons. Kirk had but few arms fit for horsemen, but he gave 
these gentlemen, in addition to his former grant to the garrison, twen¬ 
ty additional barrels of gun-powder, six hundred firelocks, and a thousand 
musquets, together with bullets and match proportionable, eight small 
pieces of cannon, and a few hand grenades. lie also gave them com¬ 
missions for a regiment of horse, consisting of sixteen troops, to con¬ 
tain fifty private men in each troop, besides officers for a regiment of 
dragoons, consisting of twelve troops, with the same number of mea 


122 


vr, each ; and for three regiments of foot, and an independent troop of 
fior.se to be attached to each regiment ; each regiment of foot to con¬ 
sist of eighteen companies, thereof two companies were to be grena¬ 
diers, and sixty private men in each company. Kirk had no private 
men to snare, but sent the Lnniskilleners some very good officers. viz. 
William Wolsely, Esq. to be Com man der-i n- Chief, am! Colonel of their 
horse, Captain William Derry, to be Lieutenant-Colonel of horse. 
Rod Colonel James Wynne, a gentleman of Ireland, to command the 
dragoons. 


Gustfmjs Hamilton, Governor of Enniskillen, was appointed Colo¬ 
nel of the first of the three regiments of foot ; Lietif-en ant-Col oriel 
Lloyd and Minor Tiflen, Inn 5 the command of tlie other two. Cap¬ 
tain Thomas Price, who had also a troop of horse, Was appointed Ma¬ 
jor-General, and Captain Johnston, who had charge of a company of 
foot was nominated Engineer. Kirk lay under heavy censure for his 
delay, respecting the relief of Londonderry, but Mr. Hamilton, one 
of the messengers on this important occasion, does him the justice to 
say, that as soon as he had keen informed of the condition of the garri¬ 
son of Enniskillen, of which he had been previously ignorant, he 
granted all that was asked from him, and no man could have shown 
more zeal than l:e did for the service of King William, and the preser¬ 
vation of the Protestants. 


Go the thirteenth the Commissioners on the English and Irish side 
assembled near the out-works of Londonderry, for the purpose of 110 - 
gociating a surrender of the city. They all dined together in a tent 
which had been pitched for the occasion, and debated till night. The 
besiegers, although they consented to all that was material in the arti- 
ries proposed by the garrison, would grant no longer time for the 
surrender than till two o'clock on the next day hut one, Monday the 
fifteen i ll, They required their hostages to he kept in the city, with¬ 
out being sent, as the besieged required, to the English fleet, and 
they would allow no arms to he kept, on marching out, except bv ihe 

officers and gentlemen of the city. The Derry Commissioners re- 

• • 

turned to the garrison late in the evening, after having, with great 
difficulty, obtained time till the next day, at twelve o'clock, to return 
an answer. Immediately after they got hack, Governor Walker re¬ 
ceived a letter, carried !>v a little hoy from the fleet. It was written 
by Lieutenant David Mitchell, who stated that Major-General Kirk 
had formed an encampment on the Island of Inch. Walker, to en¬ 
courage the garrison to hold out, transcribed the letter and specified 
that this encampment consisted of four thousand horse and nine 
thousand foot. Mackinzie accuses him of acting with great incon¬ 
sistency, by advising a surrender, after this manoeuvre to prevent one : 
hut his apparent prejudice against tfiat great man, and the silence of 
the gallant Captain Ash on the subject render this accusation nugatory. 
Walker is not the only man who voted for a measure which he hud re¬ 
solved to frustrate. 



Mitclielliiirn desired tlie usual signal should be made; and according* 
ly on the next morning, before the Council met, at eight o’clock, to 
decide upon the answer to he sent to the Irish army, seven guns were 
discharged from the steeple of the Cathedral. Three more were fired 
at twelve o’clock, and at night-fall a lanthorn, with a strong light in 
it, was set upon the pole which bore the Hag. After some debate, 
the Council returned their answer to the besiegers, that unless they 
should get time till Wednesday, the twenty-sixth of July, ami that 
the hostages were in the mean time secured on hoard the English Heet, 
THEY would Not SURRENDER ; as to the manner of their marching 
out, they left that to be debated by their Commissioners. The enemy 
refused at once, to grant these terms, and so the treaty ended, the 
garrison having gained that time by it upon which they had calculated. 
ISo incensed were tiie Irish at this disappointment of their hopes, that 
they scarcely allowed the Commissioners to get within the Derry lines, 
when they vented their anger, by a heavy cannonade from their 
bombs ami mortars ; but their fury, as usual, was greater than their 
precision, and on this day, though exceedingly loud, did very little 
mischief. 


Next, morning General Hamilton Wrot'6 to the Earl of Melfort,' in¬ 
forming him that two packets from the Prince of Orange to General 
Kirk had been taken in a Whitehaven vessel, from which it 'appeared, 
that a. great force had been embarked ar Liverpool and Chester, for the 
relief of Londonderry. Eight shells fell in the city to day; and in the 
evening about one thousand of the besiegers marched to the Hill above 
the strand, which caused the Governors to suppose they would at¬ 
tempt to force the guard at the wind-mill. They therefore commanded 
a strong party to he marched against them, which they immediately 
reinforced hv others, upon which the enemy halted and fired twelve of 
their bombs against the city, hut without doing any execution what¬ 
ever. One would suppose that the artillerymen in the Irish camp 
were secretly of the same creed with the Dublin gun-smiths, and as 
unwilling to practice their destructive art against “ the Northern Here¬ 
tics/’ It is certain that, there was at this time great disaffection and 
treachery to James in his army before Deny ; a new Sun was rising 
to meridian glory in the political hemisphere, and the chilling shades 
of a long night were gathering fast around the old one. 

The camion from Tam hi more on the opposite side of the river, how¬ 
ever, killed one of Captain Gordon’s men between the wind-null and 
the city; after which the enemy retreated to their camp, from which 
the cannonade recommenced after a short pause. 

On the sixteenth four bombs were discharged against the town, and 
there is no record of arty damage having been done by them. A con¬ 
siderable quantity of timber which bad been outside the Butchers’ and 
1 erryquay-gate was brought in this day, and distributed among the 
soldiers v*Im wetn in grOat want of fuel ; and a small fort was made of 

U 




■casks, filled with clay and sods, near tlie outer side of tfie Royal bssv 
Ifcion to prevent the enemy from working near the wall. At the hour’ 
of ten o’clock in the morning of this day, a small party of the besiegers 
attacked the works opposite Butchers’-gate, and none of the garrison 
happening to be there, soon possessed themselves of them. They 
were, however, quickly repulsed from the walls, the besieged pelt¬ 
ed them with stones taken from some ruined buildings near them. A 
few of the assailants'were killed, and one of them was taken prisoner in 
this action. In the mean time, two regiments marched out of the Irish* 
campi towards the works oti the wind-mill hill, but seeing the Derrv- 
snen advance cheerfully to meet them, they halted when they had got 
half way down, and marched back to the other side of the park. The* 
soldiers who'had been encouraged to this movement by the gallant 
Mitchelbitrn, raised a huzza- from one end of the line to the other, 
waving their hats in vain to invite the foe to come down to them. At 
the same time, Colonel Murray, with about twelve chosen men, went 
down to flank the enemy's trench before Butehers’-gate, and continued 
firing at them till their ammunition was spent, and he was shot through 
both his thighs, up near the body. The wound proved very dangerous 
to the life of this distinguished officer, who did not recover of it till the 
approach of the ensuing winter. One of his men, James Murray, 
Was killed on this occasion ; and a few days afterwards he was dis¬ 
turbed in his bed-chamber by a sad accident which occured there ; 
Lieutenant David lloss entered rudely into the room to search for 
some saddles, which had been lost by Sir Arthur Ravvdon ; one of 
Murray’s regiment, who happened to be thereat the time resented the 
intrusion, by some hasty expression ; Ross struck him several times- 
across the head with his sword, upon which the dragoon taking up his 
carabine, fired at him, and killed him on the spot. Six shells were 
thrown into the city this night, and the enemy took away their bat¬ 
tering guns to Brook hall, where they planted them near the boom.- 

The sixteenth of July, now proved as fatal to James’s interests 
in Scotland, as the first and twelfth of the same month in the two en¬ 
suing years, turned out in Ireland, although a signal victory was ob¬ 
tained for him on the former of these memorable days. * Graliam, 
of Claver-house, Viscount Dundee, having long waited with impatience 
for the succour promised to him from Ireland, and intercepted by the 
Vigorous defence of Londonderry, gave up all hopes of speedy aid. as 
soon as he saw the few spiritless recruits which arrived to him from Car- 
l ickfergus, without arms, ammunition, or clothing. He therefore re¬ 
solved to try the fate of a battle, with the forces which lie had himself 
collected; and he was induced to make the attempt without delay, by 
the approach of General Mackay with King William’s army towards 
the Castle of Blair, in Athole, where he had left a garrison to preserve a 
communication between the two divisions of the Highlands, in which 
tlx© cfaiff part of his adherents lav. On the morning of this day, bg* 


gnarched from Dunlteld to tlie mouth of the pass of Ivillieranlue. The 
following description of this romantic spot is given by Dr. Whitaker, 
ju l»is book—De motu per Britanniam Clvico, pag. 38, London, 1809 : 
r—- c< Scilicet eo loci montana Scotiae primum in juga clementiora, inde in 
•planitiem satis amplam dpmissa, a meridle riirsus in fauces angustissi- 
.nias subito coarctantur, tanquam provide numinis consilio claustra ac 
repagulaad versus barbaros futura. Interfluit tumelljus amnis, infre- 
Tnens, spumosus. Per medium, ferine c'ivutn pertlnet callis vix singulis 
jam turn permeabilis, nunc militum opera,'egregie mluiitus. Infra usque 
a<i alvum, torrentis, descenduut ropes' prseruptae, desuper ubique im- 
tninentibus saxis levi moment© in subeuiltes persolvendis. Ad lure 
quacunque per cautes licuerit internatis arboribus, densa subolescunt 
arbusta, ut, per otium intuentibus volupfatem simul et. horrorem 
(locus incutiat; kjxi icrankto nomen.est, gka^iio taodunensis, Viri 
fortissinfri nece nriemorabili.” Here Dundee rested bis men for two 
hours, after which, adopting .the disposition by which Montrose’s army 
carried the battle of Aldern, forty-three years before this time, he de¬ 
tached his clans to the right and left, ; bn a mountain which commanded 
the pass, leaving his centre weal: \ but concealing the feebleness of it 
by shewing a few men,* ; bonnets,, and spears, through the trees and 
bushes with which that part of the ground was covered. Half an hour 
before sunset, he rushedidowh from this position, and impetuously 
began his attack by columns upon the wings of the enemy, drawn up 
St the mouth of the pass, after having used many efforts in vain to pro¬ 
voke him to battle in a regukubut jess advantageous manner. 

His closfe columns fapidly pehetrated through the Weak files of the 
opposing flanks of Mackay’s army, which soon yielded to an irresistible 
•force-suddenly brought into action against them. * The contest imme¬ 
diately, became a trial of speed, in which Dundee, pressing forward 
furiously towards the pass to cut off the retreat of the English troops, 
outstripped Jibs men, and in >lie violence of -his impatience at their de¬ 
lay, turned round suddenly, raising his right hand over his head, as a 
signal for their advancing, v/hen-a random shot from the enemy enter-, 
et! an opening#*# his armour, and mortally wounded him. . Dalrympla 
says he died upon the spot, as soon as a satisfactory answer had been 
given to his enquiries respecting the extent of bis victory. He lived, 
however, until the next day, and in the course of the night wrote a 

' m L.' 

letter to Lord Melfort, desiring speedy assistance from Ireland far 
Hod’s sake ; and saying that he had been told his wounds were not 
mortal. A. letter was found in his pocket after his death, which af¬ 
forded a melancholy proof of the infatuation which could cause a Pro¬ 
testant of high spirit and distinguished military character, to sacrifice v 
bis life in the cause of a Popish tyrant. The letter was written to in¬ 
form him that a declaration of indemnity for Protestant opponents, 
and tolerattox of the reformed religion in Scotland, had been drawn 
v-p in such ambiguous terms, that James might break through it when- 


12G 


ever lio should deem it expedient to do so. Death must have been a 
welcome liberation to a gallant Protestant officer, from the degrad¬ 
ing service of this bigot. 'Ihus perished the cause of Popery in 
Scotland; the Highlanders, on the loss of their chieftain, suffered 
Mackay's army to escape while they were plundering the English bag- 
gaye. It was to no purpose that two thousand of the latter had been 
killed, and five hundred taken prisoners. The express which was sent 
to Edinburgh with an account of the defeat, was detained by some 
accident for four-and-tvventy hours on the way, and when King Wil¬ 
liam heard of that circumstance, he observed, with Ids characteristic 
sagacity, that Dundee must have been dead or lie would have been in 
the metropolis before the express, and that is was unnecessary to send 
any reinforcement to General Mackay. The Highlanders which com¬ 
posed Dundee’s army were engaged in some skirmishes and drawn, 
battles for a campaign or two, when they dispersed, and a peace was 
concluded. 


On the day of the battle of Killicrankie, the English fleet, which 
had come round from Loughswilly to the harbour of Culm ore, in 
Lough-Foyle, returned to their station off the inland of Inch, again 
severely disappointing the hope of relief which their appearance had 
kindled among the defenders of Londonderry. A yerv humiliating 
task was this day imposed Upon the unfortunate James, by his master. 
Count D’Avaux, the French Ambassador; it was the issuing of a de¬ 
claration, signed by his Secretary, Lord Meffort, that the subjects of the 
King of Fiance should, as to commercial imposts and encouragements, 
he treated as Irishmen ; that he never would refuse permission to trans^ 
port, wool into France, and had positively forbidden its being sent into 
England. He also mentioned his compliance with the demands of 
D’Avaux, relative to the sale of French wines without the payment 
of duty. This was a precious King for a free commercial country. 
This one act would warrant his exclusion from the throne, even if the 
entire of the population of the realm be forfeited, had been members of 
the Church of Home. 

On the seventeenth of this month the garrison of Londonderry was 
reduced in number to five thousand, one hundred, and fourteen men, 
having lost two hundred during that and the three-preceding days; 
each individual of the army was allowed half-a-pound of oatmeal, the 
same quantity of shelling, as much tallow, and thrive pounds of salted 
hides. According to a credible tradition, a trick was played about this 
time to deceive the enemy, by the belief that so considerable a quanti¬ 
ty of concealed meal had been discovered in some cellars of the city, 
that no hope could be entertained of their surrendering for want of 
provisions : One barrel of meal was distributed upon the bottoms of 
some large empty vessels, turned upside down, and shown in pre- 
«> ded confidence to some messengers who had been sent in from the 
carno of the besiegers. 


j ‘t 


127 


General Hamilton wrote tills day to Lord Mel fort, informing him 
that tlie whole of the English fleet which had sailed from Lough-Swil- 
3v towards England or Scotland, had returned from Sea, and was an¬ 
chored before Ennishowen Point. He also stated that about four hun¬ 
dred of the Protestants being at Ramiillen, the Duke of Berwick, 
then within ten miles of that place, intended to march thither in the 
middle of the night, and attack them before sun-rise.- At the same 
time James wrote from Dublin to Mareschal De Rosen, informing him 
that he had received piivate intelligence, that vessels for transporting 
cavalry had been made ready at Whitehaven, Chester, and Liverpool, 
that ladders and other implements for a siege had been put on hoard 
ships in the Thames, and that Count De Solmes was to command the 
expedition. He therefore observed, that it was necessary to execute 
his design upon Enniskillen without delay, and desired that the siege 
of Derry should be pressed closely, ordering him to mention a day on 
which he might expect it would he taken. 


Twelve shells were thrown into Derry on the eighteenth of July, 
and the enemy's battering mortars broke the breast-work of the bastion 
below Butchers’-gate, which was repaired that night with barrels and 
sods. In the course of the (lav a letter arrived in the city, purporting 
to he from General Kirk, promising to be there very soon with relief. 
Some doubts which arose about its authenticity, were done away by 
Governor Mitchelburn’s knowledge of the General's hand-writing, he 
having been promoted by him at Tangier. 'An answer to this letter 
was returned next day, sewed up in one of the messenger’s buttons. 
A hill passed this day in James’s pretended Parliament, vesting the 
goods of all alisentees comprehended under the act cf attainder, in the 
Crown. This unjust act was observed to lessen rather than increase 
the zeal of those employed to plunder the houses and lands of the ab¬ 
sent Protestants, because it indemnified them for only half of the 
amount of their seizures* as scarcely even that proportion of persons 
whom they had robbed were included in the bill of attainder, which 
seemed to have chiefly aimed at the possessors of landed property. Out 
the next day this Parliament was prorogued and never again assembled. 


Two and twenty shells were thrown into Londonderry on the nine¬ 
teenth of this month, and the battering mortars again broke down the 
breast-work of Butcher’s-gate. In the mean time a shot from the gar¬ 
rison killed Monsieur Masse, Engineer-general of the Irish army, shot 
off the left hand of Captain Bourke, and wounded a gunner and two 
soldiers who stood near Colonel Waucop. A second discharge killed 
two private soldiers, and the wind of it passing across Major Geoghe- 
gan's face nearly blinded him. General Hamilton now wrote to Tyr- 
connel, informing him that the rebels in Derry were still three thou¬ 
sand strong, all good marksmen, and that the entire battalions in the 
besieging army did not exceed tbe number of five thousand men. II® 
added, that if the Duke of Berwick should succeed against the E 


minis- 


Filmier,i. and join Inna with tlie army under his command, he had little 
doubt of being able to deal with any succours that might arrive from 
England to the besieged city. On the next day, 1 e corrected an error in 
tlie account, lie bad given of tlie number of men in Derry, and stated 
It to have amounted to five thousand; observing, that as the garrison 
there had been diminished by sickuess and mortality, the besiegers bad 
grown weaker from similar causes. He acknowledged lie bad exagge¬ 
rated hi bis former letter the number of bis own army, which fell much 
short of Iks statement, and that tlie English fleet lay between tlie Island 
of Inch; and Ramullen, with the design of collecting as many men as 
possible in addition to tlie troops on board, and then sending an army 
to join the Enni*killen-men. He stated that Marescbal De Rosen was 
keeping his bed in a fit of ill humour, resolved to meddle with noth¬ 
ing respecting the conduct of tire siege, .and announced that the be¬ 
siegers would be shortly in severe want of provisions, as the country 
about Derry bad been drained of all means of supporting an army. 

A copy of the depositions of tie General officers of the besieging 
army round Londonderry, on the 20th July, 1689, has been preserv¬ 
ed among Nairne’s papers : Chevalier Charles de Carney, rating the 
garrison at two thousand men and officers, did not, think that, the 
besieging army, reduced as it had been by sickness, was in a con¬ 
dition to force the city to surrender. Brigadier-General Dominick 
Sheldon was of the same opinion with Carney, but relied on the ne¬ 
cessities of the city effecting what the Irish force was not competent to 
accomplish. General Buchan stated that tlie town could not he spec*- 
dily taken on account of a want of cannon, and announced a great dimi¬ 
nution of the besieging army from sickness and desertion. Mons. Giradiu 
judiciously recommended that a hotly of troops should lie stationed on 
rbe Finn water to prevent, a junction of Kirks troops-with the Ennis- 
Lilleners ; this officer apprehended fatal results from a scarcity of provi¬ 
sions. 'flie Duke of Berwick declared his opinion that it was impos¬ 
sible to take Londonderry by storm, and tliat no hope of its surrender 
could he eiiferlajued except from their want of provisions. General 
Hamilton stated that the most essential thing to be done was to prevent 
the junction of the Enniskillen-men with the troops which had landed 
at Ramullen in the county of Donegal, from the English ships, amt 
which were receiving a daily augmentation from the neighbouring couik 
.fry. lie added, that the fleet having left Lough-Foyle, was then an- 
bored between the island of Inch and the down of Ramnlten, and 
that the army under the command of the Duke of Berwick could not fig 
more advantageously posted than at Castlefin, where information re- 
sweeting the movements of the enemy was most likely to he had, and 

where the most proper measures to oppose them might he adopted_ 

Flo cautioned Lord Melfort against suffering the apprehended failure of 
ymvLions to ruin the army, and mentioned the danger of abandoning' 
the town of Beltiufet) incase the Irish forca there under the 



maml of Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Hamilton should advance tfw 
Wards Trillick. 


At tins time provisions being extremely scarce, Mr. James Cun¬ 
ningham, a merchant in Londonderry, discovered a method for sup¬ 
plying the garrison for six or seven of the severest days of rvant, not 
* only with food, hut most salutary medicine. He shewed them where 
there was a considerable quantity of starch, which they mixed with, 
tallow and fried as pan-cakes. This food proved a providential reme¬ 
dy for the dysentery which prevailed in the city to an alarming de¬ 
gree, from excessive fatigue, mental anxiety, and unwholesome food. 
This day the Rev. Andrew Hamilton and his fellow messenger from 
Enniskillen, left the English fleet with the seasonable supply of arms, 
ammunition, officers, and commissions which they had obtained from 
the General on board, who having thus sent effectual aid to the En- 
niskilleners, proceeded himself in the Swallow frigate, accompanied 
by the Mount joy and other* store-ships, with the intention of throwing 
a relief into Londonderry. Oatmeal, which before the siege was to 
be had for four pence, was now sold at six shillings a peck ; butter 
for five pence an ounce, and all other food that could be procured, 
was proportionality dear. Captain Ash mentions a poor man whom 
hunger had, at this melancholy time compelled to kill his dog and 
dress the flesh to satisfy the importunate cravings of his stomach.— 
Just as he was about to feast upon this rarity, an inexorable cre¬ 
ditor, equally hungry, came in to demand a debt, which he was una¬ 
ble to repay in any other way than by resigning the carcase of the dead 
dog to the unbidden guest, which he did with a languishing and rue¬ 
ful countenance. This was a transaction in which pomp might fin i 
physic and an epicure he taught the value of plain food. A pro¬ 
clamation was issued in Dublin this day, by James himself, express¬ 
ly forbidding Protestants to wear or keep any swords, under the pe¬ 
nalty of being counted rebels and used as such. 


On the twenty-first a considerable portion of the besieging army 
was seen from Derry marching towards the Island of Inch, and almost 
ail their tents at Enoch, on the eastern side of the Foyle, were taken 
away. Captain Ash calculated that from the twenty-fourth of April 
to this day, no less than five hundred and eighty shells were thrown 
into the city. 


In this month three additional companies of Popish soldiers were 
raised for the defence of the town of Galway, and the following 
officers were appointed to command them, viz. Stephen Lynch I'itz 
Nicholas, Martin French Fitzpeter, Alexander Ffrench and Dominick 
Kirwan, Captains; Christopher Lynch Fitzpeter, Janies Lynch Fits? 
Dominick, William Lynch Fitz Andrew, and Francis Lynch Fitz 
William, Lieutenants; William Vaughan, Francis Kirwan, Thomas 
Rvau and Peter Hey no. Ensigns. The Protestant inhabitants wer» 


130 


immediately afterwards removed by the Governor to the west silbizfb& 7 
for the better security of the town. 

On the twenty-second, the garrison of Londonderry was reduced 
fo the number of four thousand, nine hundred and seventy-three, 
having lost one hundred and forty-one men in three days. Two of 
the enemy's battering pieces discharged above forty shots against the 
city. One of these sent in a nineteen amf another a fourteen pound 
ball, which killed some persons who lay in garrets, and wounded 
many others. This day a hoy arrived with a verbal message from the 
island of Inch, stating that officers had been sent from that place to 
Enniskil'en for the purpose of leading the Protestant army at that 
town, to form a junction with the English forces, and then proceed 
to raise the siege of Derry. He said that the relief might be ex¬ 
pected in a few days. The messenger who had been sent from Derry 
on the preceding Friday, was presented with an Ensign’s commission 
by General Kirk. The allowance to each soldier in the garrison on 
this day was half a pound of starch with the same weight of tallow, 
one pound of anniseeds being divided among each company, consist¬ 
ing of sixty men. 

A letter was this day written fry James from frls court in the Cas¬ 
tle of Dublin, to Mareschal De Rosen, of which that officer sent a 
copy to General Hamilton, ordering the country round Londonderry 
to be lard waste, and sent such a reinforcement to the Duke of Ber¬ 
wick as would enable him to attack the Enniskilleners. In another 
letter of the same date, he commanded General Hamilton to raise the 
siege if he did not think a blockade would reduce if ; be ordered one- 
Burton, an engineer, to go to Cbarlemont, observing, that engineers 
appeared to be of small use against Derry, and charging bis’armv i« 
case the siege should be raised, to blow' up the fort of Culm ore, that 
it should not stand in hie way at another time. 

This day, Captain Chichester Fortescue, of Donaghmore, in the 
county of Down, reckoned one of the best swordsmen in Ireland, 
died in Deny of a dysentery. He had raised a troop of dragoons at 
his own expense, and brought them there, after he had been plunder¬ 
ed of his chattels, and driven from his residence hv the Irish rappa- 
rees. His wife and children had been separated from him hi the 
month of March, at the breach of Dromore, from which place they 
fled into the Isle of Man where they lived in great distress. He was 
the grandfather of Chichester Fortescue, of Dronrisken, in the coun¬ 
tv of Louth, Member of Parliament for the borough of Irvine in 
1747. 

On the twenty-third the Irish battering pieces killed two brothers, 
ns they lav in a garret in Bishop s-street, and injured many houses- 
At the same time a plot was discovered for seizing the gunners, nail¬ 
ing up the cannon, and surrendering the city. It was insaiitlv fnrs- 


131 


'rated and two of the principal contrivers of it were cast into prison, 
cn a charge of high treason. During this and the two preceding 
days, a court, martial was held for punishing misdemeanors in the City. 
Captain Robert White was President, and the other members of it 
were Lieutenant-Colonel Miller, Majors J. Dobbin and Alexander 
Stuart with Captains Crook, Godfrey, Johnston, Downing, Ash, 
Thompson, Cochran, and Dobbin. In' this Court, the Store-keeper, 
and those concerned with the Excise and the City Rent were called hi 
an account, and the money got from them Was applied for the mending 
of the fire-arms, &c. One pound of wheat, and the same quantity of 
grits were this day given to each of the officers of the garrison. 

On the twenty-fourth, it was resolved by a council of wai ; that five 
hundred men should sally out of the City at four o’clock next morn¬ 
ing, and drive in some cattle that were grazing between the out-posts 
and Pennyburn-mill. All the officers were hound to secrecy until the 
business*should be accomplished. The court martial ordered that all the 
black cattle in the garrison should he killed for the use of the soldier*?. 
In the evening two ships came up to Cuhnore, This day, says Cant. 
Ash, six shillings were offered for the flesh of a dog, and horses and 
cats were eaten; in the course of the night a serjeant and a private sol¬ 
dier deserted to the enemy, with their arms and clothes. The garrison 
.was reduced to the number of four thousand eight hundred and ninety- 
two on the twenty-fifth of this month, having lost eighty-one men in 
three days. At three o’clock this morning, the pass-word agreed upon 
being Orange, two hundred of the garrison sallied from Shipquay-gate 
and the same number from Butchers’-gate, while eleven hundred re¬ 
mained within the ravelin for a reserve. Some of the soldiers also 
sallied at the same time from Bishop’s-gate, but the number of them 
has not been recorded. Those who went out from Shipquay-gate 
were commanded bv C aptain Frances W ilson, Lieutenant Moore, and 
Serjeant Neely r those who issued from Bntcher's-gate were led by 
Captains A. Hamilton, Bmly, and Ash* They promptly flanked the 
ditches which ran through the orchard at both ends, according to the 
orders thev had previously received, upon which the enemy got into 
disorder, and fled with confusion. So little did they expect so vigor¬ 
ous an attack from a body of men whom they supposed to have been 
perishing by hunger, fatigue, and disease, that they were completely 
surprised, not having even one of their matches kindled. Three bun-* 
dred of their men and officers were killed ; and the execution would 
have been much greater had not the victors been so weakened from 
hunger, as to be unable to make the pursuit as vigorously as the at¬ 
tack had been. Many of them were so feeble as to fall in the attempt 
to make a blow. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Fitzgerald and some 
other Irish officers were killed, and Captain Nugent, Ensign M'•Car- 
tv, and upwards of sixty of the besiegers were wounded. The party 
at Bishop’s -gate did not come out till the others were in action, ffir 

S 


they <li«l good service, under tlie command of CapSains Blair and Dix* 
on, anu Lieutenant Boyd. 

The enemy, on the hill, seeing their men quit the trench, came 
hastily down, and obliged the salliers, weak and wearied as they were, 
to retire within their trenches at Bishop’s-gate. They missed the prey 
which had attracted them, for on the moment of their appearance the 
Irish drove their cattle away; but they brought off a good store of 
arms and knapsacks, with what was more acceptable than either, had 
they been made of gold, namely, some bannocs of oaten bread, and 
pieces of mutton and other meat: they also got several spades, shovels* 
and pick axes. Some French and English pieces of gold, taken from 
Captain Nugent, were divided between Captain Wilson, who took 
him, and one Burrel, who conducted him into the City. An English 
serjeant got his s word; but his scarlet coat, with its large plate but¬ 
tons, was returned to him. The Derrymen lost but one officer in 
this action, Lieutenant Fisher, and two privates. 

While this business was going on, the serjoant and two privates who 
had deserted to the enemy on the preceding night were sent hack to 
the city, their arms and clothes having been taken from them. The 
enemy now desired a parley from one of their positions near Wind¬ 
mill-hill, and two men of the garrison who went out to speak with 
them were treacherously murdered. In the course of the evening the 
besieged tried the cruel experiment of tying a cow to a stake and set¬ 
ting fire to her, in hopes of her drawing some of those belonging to 
tbe enemy near enough to her to betaken: but she frustrated the 
effort by breaking loose from tbe stake to which she had been tied, 
and would have ran into the Irish lines had she not been shot. A 
sad accident happened in one of the guard-houses in the City this 
day, by the blowing up of half a barrel of gunpowder, into which a 
spark of fire had fallen from a tobacco-pipe. It wounded and greatly 
disfigured two of the Irish prisoners and two of the men who were 
guarding them. 

On the twenty-sixth, the Rev. Andrew Hamilton and Mr. John 
Rider, the messengers between the Enniskilieners and General Kirk, 
arrived at Ballyshannon with the officers they had gone for, where 
they were received with great joy. The vessels which carried the 
arms and ammunition did not arrive at that place for two or three days 
afterwards. An oath was this day imposed upon the occupiers of 
bouses and lodgings in Londonderry, for the purpose of obliging them 
to give a true account of the provisions in their possession. A com¬ 
petency for one week was allowed to them, according to their families, 
and the rest was taken to tiie public stores. Ensign M‘Carty and 
two other prisoners, who had been much hurt on the preceding day 
by the blowing up of gunpowder, were released this evening. 

The garrison was reduced, on the twenty-seventh of this month, to 


133 


four thousand four hundred and fifty-six men. The.following market 
prices, from Walker’s Diary, testify the extent of their sufferings 
from famine, and the degree of heroism which animated them in their 
refusals to surrender:— 

Horse flesh, each pound, one shilling and eight pence. 

A quarter of a dog, fattened by eating dead bodies, : five shillings and six pence. 

A dog’s head, two shillings and sixpence. 

A cat, four shillings and six pence. 

A rat, (fattened by eating human JleahJ one shilling, 

A mouse, sixpence. 

A pound of greaves, one shilling. 

A pound of tallow, four shillings. 

A pound of salted hides, one shilling. 

A quart of horse blood, one shilling. 

A horse pudding, six pence. 

A handful of sea wreck, two pence. 

The same quantity of chickcnwecd, one penny. 

A quart of meal when found, one shilling. 

A small fluke taken in the riv.er could not be purchased for money, and was to 
he got only in exchange for meal. 

Here it may be observed, that the intermission of the taking of 
salmon and other fish for this and the two succeeding summers, made 
the fisheries of Ulster much more valuable for many years afterwards 
than they otherwise would have been. One of the chief causes of 
the decay of the salmon fishery is the unremitted and severe fishery 
of tiie rivers, by which means a sufficient number of mother fish, 
as the breeders are called, cannot get up to tbe spawning places, and 
so there is not an adequate stock for the succeeding years. The fish¬ 
eries being usually farmed, those who hold them are interested in 
over-fishing them. 

So great a necessity now pressed the defenders of Londonderry, 
that Walker says they had no prospect of subsistence otherwise than 
by eating the bodies of the dead ; and he mentions a fat gentleman of 
his acquaintance who hid himself for several days, because he imagin¬ 
ed that some of the soldiers who were perishing by hunger, looked 
at 1 im with a greedy eye. In the height of this distress, the spirit 
and courage of the sufferers was so great, that they were frequently 
heard to contend with some warmth in debates, whether they would 
take the debentures they expected from Kjng William, in Ireland or 
in France ; when, as their Reverend Governor observes, in his Diary 
of the Siege, they could not promise themselves twelve hours’ life. 
To support their spirits among so many discouragements, he preached 
a sermon to them at this time in the Cathedral Church ; finding his 
own heart glow with confidence that God would not give them over 
to he a prey to their cruel and dastardly enemies, after so long and 
miraculous a preservation, he reminded them of several instances of 
the providential support they had experienced from the commence¬ 
ment of the siege. He dwelt, upon the importance of their perse¬ 
verance in the cause of the Protestant Religion, at that time, and 


134 


\yUfi irresistible eloquence, assured them that they would soon he de¬ 
livered from all their difficulties. Mackinzie says, however, that he 
preached a discouraging 1 sermon at tins time ; hut lie is unsupported 
i) V any other authority in this improbable assertion ; and the author 
of the Poem found at Armagh, who appears to have been disposed 
to do ample justice to all those whose ministerial labours were con¬ 
spicuous at this time, has the following passage on th& subject:— 

In Saint ColMnba’s Church, now every flay, 

The Church and Kirk did jointly preach and pray ; 

Their Doctor Walker, to their great consent, 

Did preach against a Popish government. 

Piaster Mackinzie preach’d on the same theme. 

Teaching the love and fear of God’s great name. 

Rowat of Lifford did comfxrm us still, 

He preach’d submission to God’s holy will. 

When our deliverance pass’d all human belief, 

He prophesied, with truth, a quick relief. 

The same was taught us by the Reverend Crooks; 

Ami Hamilton, too skew’d it from his hooks, 

The riding Elder, Mills, declar'd the same, 
foretelling aid six weeks before it came. 

Y\ hiie we against tire Irish army fought. 

From morn till night these worthy Preachers taught; 

And Hr. from whom all victories proceed, 

2?less u then O .oa labours in the time of need.” 

On the twenty-eighth of July a spy from the city informed the 
Iri h army that the g o rison had kilk 1 all their cows, horses, and 
dogs, and that their only hope was in the relief they c peeled from the 
fleet. It is stated in tire life of James II. that on this day the ser- 
jeu. r s and private soldiers of the city sent out a paper to General 
Buchan, ottering to surrender the town to General Hamilton next 
day, if they could obtain some favourable conditions for themselves ; 
this, however, was probably one pf these false rumours which were 
spread ..broad \\ itb great industry at this time. 

This morning Captain Charleton lost all the credit of liis long suf¬ 
ferings during the Tege,. by quitting the city and deserting to the 
enemy >n the very last day that he could have the slightest tempta¬ 
tion tO do SO, 

V* bile affairs were in this critical state at Londonderry, the Erv* 
rii* kilieners got notice of the arrival of the Irish General M‘Carty 
i:i Belturhet, with a considerable army, destined to besiege their 
town. Oif die twenty-eighth the r fticers sent by General Kirk ar¬ 
rived to them by wate r from Be Meek, where they had taken boat on 
their way from Ball ysh an non. They were received on the side of the 
town which they approached, by a guard of honour, the" whole garri¬ 
son tiring three vollies to welcome them. All the inhabitants and so- 
j< rruers in t! e town cahie in great crowds to the place where these 
officers'landed, so that'they could scarcely make their way to the 
casrle ; and nothing was 'heard Tut loud 'acclamations, welcoming 


r 


I 



\hem, and praising Gor> that their English friends had not forgotten 
■them. During this night an account came that M‘Cartv and his 
army had advanced from Belturbet to Crom, where they were raising 
a battery to play upon the castle. The Governor was at that time ill 
of a fever, and Colonel Wolseley, the new Commander-in-chief, re¬ 
ceived the express. On the next day, being the twenty-ninth, ano¬ 
ther express arrived from Crom, informing the Enniskilleners that 
McCarthy had begun to batter the castle at that place, and had made 
his approaches very near to it. The besieged killed a great number 
of ti»e Irish army with their musquests, but being unfurnished with 
cannon, and fearing the result of a regular siege, they sent this ex¬ 
press imploring relief. On the same day Colonel W olseley sent them 
a favourable answer, and for the purpose of their relief, recalled the 
troops from Ballyshannon, except a competent number to defend that 
town, in case Sarsfield, who had advanced with his army to Bun- 
droose, within four miies of it, should attempt to take it. 


Intelligence had been brought to Enniskillen on the twenty-ninth, 
;’hat Lieutenant-General M‘Carty intended to detach a port! n of his 
army next day towards Lisnaskea, and to place a garrison in the cas¬ 
tle there. In consequence of this, Lieutenant-Colonel Berry was 
sent next morning with seven or eight troops of horse, three compa¬ 
nies of foot, and two troops *©f dragoons, to anticipate them, by tak¬ 
ing possession of the castle of Lisnaskea. 1 i cy had orders to place a 
garrison in it if it appeared tenable, if not, to burn it to the ground. 

In the mean time the sufferings of the defenders of Londonderry 
.approached towards their termination, by v.i e relief of that city on. 
the twenty-eighth day of July. Immediately after Divine ser¬ 
vice, the ships in the Lough were seen to approach the distressed 
•city, now in the last extremity to which famine and disease could 
reduce them. The impression made l>y their appearance on the 
besieging army, is thus described in tbe historical Drama so often, 
^quoted in tills work. 

After a change of scene to the Irish camp, the Generals enter, and 

Hamilton thus addresses them:— 


“ Viewing our out gpards near Ennidiowen, and easting iny eyes toward* 
:ihe harbour, I saw /our ships junder sad, and waiting for about an hour, dis¬ 
tinguished thei.r English colours, -and saw them come to anchor at Quigley’s- 
Point. They are no doubt provision ships for the relief of the rebi 1 ” 

General JSheld<yn — “ 'they 'cannot well pass the fort of Culmore nd our batte¬ 
ries ; and the worst of ail will he the boom that lies across the i , or, art! the 
batteries at both eirds of the boom.”. 

Ifamiltuu — “ It is impossible they can escape ue. Nothing that is made of 
.wood can pass there. Down they sink to the bottom.” 

Hose, —“ Give orders that if these ships otier to weigh anvfior, or hoist sail, 
£he army be immediately alarmed, and drawn into their I . won .» each 
*ide pf the river.” 

4fiLucuD —“ We shall sink'diem if there vetg an hundred of Lem, The 


fj 


Batteries on both sides of ihc river will dash them to the bottom in a moment.'* 

Enter an Officer. 

Officer- —“ The ships have n eighed anchor, and make all the sail they cam 
The wind and tide favour them.” 

]{ose>i— u Play the bombs, discharge the cannon, let every engine be at work. 
Now rebels prepare for the halter,” &c. &c. 


The defenders of the city, in the mean time, discharged eight 
pieces of cannon from the steeple of the cathedral, and slowly waved 
their crimson flag to signify the extremity of their distress. With a 
fair wind and a favourable title to facilitate the approach of the relief 
Befoie their eves, now ok never was the simultaneous cry of the 
feehle and emaciated multitude on the walls. 1 he ships approaching* 
were the Mountjoy of Londonderry, Captain Micali Browning,, 
commander, and the Phoenix of Coleraine, Captain Andrew Dou¬ 
glass, master. They were both laden with provisions, and were con¬ 
veyed by the Dartmouth frigate, commanded by Captain Leake. 
The enemy fired incessantly upon the ships from the fort of Culmore, 
and from both sides of the river as they sailed up, and the returns 
were made with the greatest bravery and effect. They passed the 
fort without sustaining any material injury, and the expectations of 
the besieged rose into transports of joy, which was almost instanta¬ 
neously succeeded by despair, when the Mountjoy, repelled by the 
boom, was run aground, and the enemy, who had crowded in mul¬ 
titudes to the water side, raised a loud huzza, as they launched their 
boats to board her. The terror which pervaded the city at this mo¬ 
ment is not to he described. The multitudes on the wall stood petri¬ 
fied in the silent agony of grief, too great for utterance ; a faint and 
shrill cry from a few women and children, alone broke the dreadful 
silence, as it added to the honors of the scene. The pallid indica¬ 
tion of fear suddenly disappearing, was succeeded by a darkness of 
colour like that which marks the countenance of men seen by the 
fight of sulphureous flames. “ All faces gathered blackness,” and 
the general despondency was at its greatest height, when the Mount¬ 
joy firing a broad-side at the enemy, rebounded from the shore, and 
the reaction of the vessel, aided by a sudden swell of the rising tide, 
floated her again into the deep water in the channel. 'Captain Dou¬ 
glass of the Phoenix was at this time warmly engaged as he passed 
uj\ on the breaking of the boom by the gallant Browning, who, 
while his vessel lay aground, was killed by a musquet-ball from the 
enemy, which struck him upon the head as he stood upon the deck 
with bis sword drawn, encouraging his men to the contest. King 
William afterwards settled a pension upon the widow of this gallant 
man, and in presence of the Court, placed a gold chain about her 
Keck. A portrait of this lady in full dress, ornamented by the royal 
present, is in the possession of her descendant, George Hamilton, 
Es<j. of KoHvmount, near Londonderry. Four of Browning’s gallant 
crew shared bis fate just as the vessel got afloat ; and then the Dart- 




mouth opening a heavy and well-directed fire upon the enemy's batte 
ries, diverted them so from both vessels, that amidst a desponding 
yell from the crowds on each side of the river, they sailed up slowly 
indeed, by reason of a failure in the wind after they had passed Cul- 
more, hut steadily and majestically, to the utter confusion of their 
batlied enemies. It was ten o'clock in the night, when they anchored 
at the Ship-quay, upon which a general shout of acclamation was misl¬ 
ed hy the soldiers on the walls, and reiterated several times, while? 
two guns were fired from the steeple, to give notice to the fleet of the 
safe arrival of the relief. Sir John Dalrymple, with his usual elegan¬ 
cy of style, but want of accuracy, says that this supply of provisions 
was received in Londonderry with silent gratitude, as if it had been 
a gift from heaven ; not with the noisy rejoicings usual upon such oc¬ 
casions. Captain Ash, however, who was an eye witness, tells us 
the reverse; and the record of the Armagh poem is, that in the over¬ 
flow of joy, the bells of the cathedral chimed their melodious notes, while 
bonfires were kindled thro’ the city, and cannon thundered from the 
walls. With respect to the long and devout procession to the church, 
with which Dalrymple rounds his period, no mention of it is made 
either hy Walker or Mackinzie, neither of whom would be unlikely 
to notice a circumstance so creditable to the religious feelings of their’ 
interesting congregations; and the fact is, that, at that hour, of the 
night, while the town’s-men were eagerly unloading the vessels, after 
.forming a barricade by casks billed with earth against the heavy fire 
of the enemy, it would have been almost impossible to have accom¬ 
plished so desirable an object as the collection of the garrison to a ge¬ 
neral thanksgiving. 

The Phoenix contained from eix to eight hundred bolls of meal, 
with which she had been laden in Scotland : and t he Mountjqy, car¬ 
rying one hundred and thirty-five tons burthen, brought from England 
her cargo of beef, pease, flour, biscuit, &c. “11 oi tne Lest kind. “ i bis 
relief/’ says Walker, “ arrived here to the inexpressible joy and trans¬ 
port of our distressed garrison, for we only reckoned upon two days 
life. We had only nine lean horses left, and one pint of meal to each 
man. Hunger and the fatigue of war had so prevailed among us, that 
of seven thousand five hundred men regimented at the commencement 
of the siege, we had now alive hut about four thousand, three hun¬ 
dred, of whom at least one fourth part were rendered unserviceable. ’ 

The besieging army continued a heavy fire on the city from their 
trenches during a considerable part of this night and next (lay, when- 
they were seen burning several houses in the neighbourhood. One of 
these, according to tradition, was Prehen-house; and another, as stat¬ 
ed in the Armagh manuscript, was the mansion of Sir Matthew Bridge, 
at Brook-hall. The castle of flap hoe was burned down at this time, 
and was not rebuilt for some years afterwards ; Bishop Cauncross ex- 
pended about a thousand pounds in re-sdtfpng it. 


138 


Tn the course of this night the Irish arinv ran away from the posi¬ 
tion which they had occupied before Londonderry for one hundred au rf 
five days, having lost eight or nine thousand men and one hundred of 
their best officers, in their abortive attempt, to reduce the city. Most 
of these fell by the sword, the rest died of fevers and dysentery, and 
a venereal disease of the most inveterate kind, and which appeared i:t 
a very remarkable manner on the bodies of several of theil- dead offi¬ 
cers ami soldiers. 

Early in the morning of the first of August, the garrison sent out’ 
detachments to see what was become of the enemy. They saw them 
on their march and following them, took some of their grenadiers pri- 
mmers m the art of burning the Protestant houses six or seven miles 
from the'cky, near St. Johnstown* on-one side of the »iver, and the 
©Id Abbey of Grange on the other. Some, however, were tempted 
to pursue the retreating enemy too far, so that a tear guard of caval¬ 
ry turned upon them and killed seven of them. Those who fled on 
the Tyrone side burned the church of Leckpatrick ; hut a protection- 
unexpectedly offered by an Irish officer to the Reverend John Sin¬ 
clair, rector of that parish, saved his house at Holy-hill, just asr 
the retreating rflpparees were putting fire to the roof of it. The 
messenger swam across the river with the protection, for which ser¬ 
vice he obtained a considerable reward- The adjoining village of BaL 
lymagorry was consumed to ashes. 

On the Donegal side, scarcely a Protestant house from Derry to y 
Lifford escaped being burned except that of Keys, of Cavanacor, to 
whom James had granted a protection on his return to Dublin. The 
want of cavalry in Derry, and the exhausted state of almost all the 
garrison, alone saved the Irish army from a prompt and destructive 
pursuit. On their arrival at, Lifford and Strabane, they heard such 
acccounts of the success of the Enniskilleriers in Fermanagh, that 
they gave up their intention of forming encampments at these towns: 
broke four of their great guns in pieces, threw twelve cart loads of 
arms into the river; and, in their haste to get towards Cbavlemont, 
out of the reach of a triumphant enemy, marched off precipitately, 
leaving many of their sick and wounded men behind them. 

On the termination of the siege, the Governors, Officers, Cler¬ 
gy, and other gentlemen in the city and garrison of Londonderry, 
sent the following Address to King William and Queen Mary, by the 
renowned Walker, who was received at Court with all the honour duo 
to his eminent services :— 

“ We, the most dutiful and loyal subscribers of this Address, out of a deep 
sense of our late miserable state and condition, do hereby return our due acknow¬ 
ledgments to Almighty God, and to vour sacred Majesty, and under you, to 
the indefatigable care of Major-General Kirk, for our unexpected relief by sea, 
in spite of all opposition of our industrious, but bloody and implacable enemies; 
*hieb relief was not less wonderfully, than seasonably conveyed to us, and that. 


139 


in the very nick of time* when we, who survived many thousands who died here 
of famine during the siege, were just ready to be cut off*, and perish'by the hand 
of barbarous, cruel, and inhuman wretches, who no sooner saw us delivered, and 
that they could not compass their wicked designs against this your Majesty's city, 
and our lives, for which they thirsted, than they im mediately set the country around 
Vjs on fire, after having plundered, robbed, and stripped all Protestants therein, as 
well those persons they themselves granted protections to, as others. We do 
therefore most sincerely rejoice with all our souls, and bless God for all his singu¬ 
lar and repeated mercies and deliverances; and do for ever adore the Divine Pro¬ 
vidence for your Majesties rightful and peaceable accession to the imperial crown 
of these Kingdoms, the proclaiming of which was justly celebrated-in tlifese parts 
with universal joy ; and we do, with all humble submission, present to your sa¬ 
cred Majesties our unfeigned loyafey, the most valuable tribute v.e can.give, nr 
your Majesties receive from us. And since the same Providence has, through 
much difficulty, made us so happy as to be your subjects, we come in the like hu¬ 
mility to lay ourselves at your Royal-feet, and do most heartily and resolvedly 
offer and engage our lives and fortunes in your service. And further, we do 
most unanimously join in a firm and unchangeable vow and resolution, of im¬ 
proving all occasions of becoming serviceable to your Majesty in what station so¬ 
ever it shall please God and your Majesty to place us, and will expose ourselves 
to all h. cards and extremities to serve your Majesty against the common enemy. 
From all which promises, vows and services, we, and every of us promise, with¬ 
out any exception or reserve, not to recede until our lives end. 

« In testimony of all which, we have hereunto subscribed our names, at Lon¬ 
donderry, this twenty-ninth day of July, Anno Domini, 1689. ” 


George Walker. 
John Mitchelburn. 
Ilichard Crofton. 
Thomas Lance. 
Hugh Hamill. 
Charles Kinnaston. 
William Campbell. 
Gervais Squire. 
William Grove. 
John McClelland. 
James Graham. 
William Thompson. 
James Young. 
Richard Cormack. 
Oliver Upton. 
Alexander Knox. 
Patrick Moore. 
John Humes. 
-Robert Denniston. 
Marin. Stewart. 
James Fleming. 
Andrew Grigson. 
Christ. Jenny. 
Thomas Smith. 
jBartht Black. 

Johu Campbell. 
Robert Morgan. 
Michael Cleuaghan. 
Richard Fane. 
Stephen Godfrey. 


j William Hamilton. 

* Robert Rogers. 

{ James Galtworth. 
Richard Tslen. 

Arthur. Hamilton. 
Michael Kullack. 
Janices Stiles. 

James Cunningham. 
Archibald M‘Culloch. 
Francis Ob re. 
Alexander Sanderson. 
Archibald Sanderson. 
Arthur Noble. 

Philip Dunbar. 
Gebfge White. 
Thomas White. 

James Gladstanes. 
John Maghlin. 

Adam Murray. 

Henry Murray. 

Henry Campsie. 

John Dobbin. 

Alexander Stewart. 
Thomas Guthrecfge. 
Thomas Johnston. 
Thomas Newcomen. 
John Ilalshton. 

Joseph Gordon. 

James Hairs. 

Andrew Hamilton. 


I Adam A1 cock. 

Robert Wallace. 

^ George Church. 
i Richard Fletning:. 

• Henry Cust. 

| John Crofton. 

$ Benjamin Wilkins, 
s 1 homas I ,ane. 

\ James Blair, 
j Dudley Philips. 

| John Buchanan. 

| Edward Curling. 

$ William Church. 

I Dal way Clements. 

Albert Hall-, 
j Matthew Cocken. 
j Thomas Fur nett, 
j William Stewart. 

; Francis Wilson. 

1 Matthew JRCJelLmd. 
i Geerge Crofton. 

| William Babington. 

I Robert King. 

John Logan. 
Alexander Rankin. 
Edmond Rice, 
j Robert Walker. 

; James M‘Cormick. 

\ John Cochran. 

; Jmues M‘Curti:ey. 



140 


Warren GoclffcL 

John Cunningham. 

Henry Lane. . 

George Walker. 

— ■ Hamilton. 

Andrew Bailly. 

Edward Davys, 

John Hamilton. 

Thomas Ash. 

Robert Bovd. 

• 

Ralph Fullerton. 

Michael Cunningham, i, 
Joseph Johnston. 

Robert Baily. 

Daniel ARCustion. 

John Bailly. 

Robert Lindsay. 

Francis Boyd. i 


James Cart-. 

William Montgomery. 
James Moore. 

Nicholas White. 

John Fuller. 

Thomas Keys. 
Frederick Keys. 
Thomas Baker. 

John Hering. 

James Huston. 

Adam Downing. 
Abraham Hillhouse. 
John Muiholland, 
Robert Bennett. 
William Dobbin. 
George Garnett. 

James Barrington. 
Henry Pearse. 


Alexander Ratcliffe* 
Thomas Adair. 

John Hamilton. 

Henry' Everett. 

Daniel Fisher. 

John Cross—Wm. Cross 
James Tracy. 

Bernard Muiholland. 
David Muiholland. 
Thomas Conlay. 

Robert Skinner. 

Richard Robinson. 
Robert Maglilin. 
Matthew Clark. 

John Clements. 

William Manson. 
Theophilus Mansdn. 
James Manson. 


The Enniskillehers, tinder the command of Lieutenant-Colonel 
Berry, marched on the last day of July from Lisnaskea, towards the 
enemy, who lay about six miles from them. They had not proceeded 
more than two miles, when the scouts discovered, at Donougb, a 
considerable body of horse and foot coming towards them, upon which 
they fell back to the main body, and all retreated towards the post 
they had moved from that morning, the enemy still advancing towards 
them. As tliey were double the number of the troops under Berry's 
command, he very judiciously continued his retreat till he got to more 
advantageous ground, having taken care to send off an express to Co- 
lbnel Wolseley at Enniskillen, acquainting Him with the situation of 
his army, and desiring prompt assistance. 

, < 

Of two roads leading to Enniskillen from Lisnaskea, Berry took 
that which had a short time before been made' through bogs and low 
grounds, nearer to Lough Erne than the old w&y, as being more se¬ 
cure aild having several passes on it much easier to defend than the 
other. On this road he retreated in good order, the enemy still fol¬ 
lowing him at some distance, till he came to a narrow causeway across 
a bog, about a mile from Lisnaskea. Two horsemen could scarcely 
pass abreast at this part of the road, which was about a musquet-shot 
n length, and here Berry resolved to halt and repel the enemy till the 
arrival of the expected aid from Enniskillen. He placed his infantry 
and dragoons in a thicket of un(Herwood at the end of the causeway, 
drawing a body of horse a little further off as a reserve, with which 
lie proposed to support the other, and he gave the word “ Oxford.” 

In a very short time Colonel Anthony Hamilton, second in com¬ 
mand under M‘Carty, came in view with a considerable body of men. 
Alighting from Fiis horse, he ordered the dragoons with him to do the 
%ame # and very bravely advanced r nr the end of the causeway, hie 






HI 


filing briskly at tlie Enniskilleners. It pleased God, however, 
on this, as well as many other occasions daring this campaign, that 
after many vollies of shot from the Irish, not one of them took effect 
upon the Protestants, who being better marksmen, killed twelve or 
fourteen of them on the causeway, and wounded Colonel Hamilton in 
the leg. On receiving the wound he retreated a little, and mounting 
his horse, ordered another officer to lead on the men. Their second 
commander, with some of the private soldiers, fell dead in a few mi¬ 
nutes from the shots of the ambuscade in the thicket, upon which the 
rest began to retreat, while their opponents, raising a shout, and cry¬ 
ing out that the rogues were running, took the bog on each side of the 
narrow road over which ; the horse passed back with rapidity, and quick¬ 
ly turned the retreat into a disorderly flight; The Enniskillen horse 
soon overtook the foot soldiers and discounted dragoons, among 
whom they made a great slaughter, chasing them through Lisnaskea 
and nearly a mile beyond it. The loss on the Irish side would have 
been much greater had not Colonel Berry found- it prudent to retreat 
in consequence - of information that General McCarty, with the main 
body of the Irish army, was advancing towards him. He therefore 
sounded a retreat, and brought back his men to the thicket at the end 
of the causeway where the engagement began, having killed about 
two hundred of the enemy, and made thirty prisoners;*cwhich he sent 
to Enniskillen,' with several horse-load of arms, which ‘she had also 
taken; ‘all this was done before nine o’clock in the morning. At ele¬ 
ven an express arrived to Berry that Colonel Wolseley, who had taken 
the old road, had come up to his relief, and ordered him to advance 
and fornra - junction with him &t*the moat above Lisnaskea. This was 
done immediately, ami after some necessary c consultation, the whole 
united body,’ consisting of'sixteen'troops of horse, three troops of 
dragoons, and twenty-one companies of foot,'with some irregular 
troops, in all about two thousand men, advanced against the enemy, 
having given the word u No Popery.’" . This gallant band had»little 
or no provisions with them, hut the victory obtained by Berry with a 
small body of them in the morning, encouraged them so much that 
they unanimously resolved to fight their way to the enemy’s provision 
carts, rather than return to Enniskillen for their dinner. • ’ * 

Colonel Wolseley sent on the forlorn hope about lialf-a-mile before 
his army. Colonel Tiffiin led the first battalion of foot, consisting of 
about five or six companies, supported by a few troops of horse. Co¬ 
lonel Lloyd commanded the second battalion of infantry, consisting 
of nearly the same number, seconded in a similar manner by cavalry. 
The main body of foot was led on by Colonel Wolseley himself, fol¬ 
lowed by the rest of the horse, under the command of Lieutehaiit- 
Colonel Berry and Major Stone. 

In this order they marched from Lisnaskea to Donough, through 
jyhich they passed, and within half-a-mile of it got in view of tlfc 


enemy’s forlorn. About the same distance from Newtownbutler they 
discovered the Irish army posted very advantageously on a steep hill, 
commanding a long and narrow causeway through a bog, by which 
way only it could be approached from that side. The Enniskillen ar¬ 
my, however, advanced against them with steadiness and vigour. Co¬ 
lonel Tiffan, with his battalion of foot, entered the bog Gn the right 
hand of the causeway, while Colonel Lloyd, with the body under his 
command, pushed on in the same direction on the other side. Colo¬ 
nel Wynn’s dragoons, divided into two equal parts, supported Titian 
and Lloyd on foot. Lieutenant-Colonel Berry advanced at the same 
time on the causeway with his horse, Colonel Wolseley bringing up 
the ain body in the rear, to send reinforcements to those who went 
before him, as occasion should require. In the mean time, the enemy 
very injudiciously exhibited a proof that they thought their position 
untenable, by setting the town of Nevvtownbutler and the houses in 
its neighbourhood on lire. After a weak opposition the Enniskillen- 
ers gained the pass, and pursued them through Newtownbutler and 
near a mile beyond it. Ike ietreating army fell back in good order, 
ami again took-a position similar to the last one they had occupied, 
securing the narrow causeway leading to it by a piece of cannon. The 
pursuing army-making the same disposition as before, found the pas¬ 
sage of their horse impeded by the fire of the cannon, 1 ill the foot 
advancing by degrees through the bog on each side, killed the can¬ 
noneers, and rushed on towards the enemy on the hill, upon which 
the Irish horse took fright and fled towards Wattle-bridge, deserting 
their foot. The foremost in this disgraceful flight was Lord Clare s 
regiment of horse called the Yellow Dragoons, from the colour of 
their facings. The tale of their dishonour is yet told in the barony of 
Movarta, near the mouth of the Shannon, where they had been rais- 
ed. It is told in the way of dialogue, in which a person supposed to 
have witnessed the scene says. “ Stop, stop, Yellow Dragoon !” to 
which one of them replies, “Not till I got to the bridge of Clare i” 
another, “ No, no, till vve come to the ford of Moyarta!” Captain 
Martin Armstrong, with a troop of cavalry, did great execution on 
these fugitives. The Irish infantry, now abandoned by their horse, 
and closely pressed by the Enniskilleners, fled into a large Log to¬ 
wards Lough-Erne on the right hand, throwing away their arms into 
t ie tuif pits as they went. An open country lay upon their right, 
through which they might easily have escaped, but with their usual 
want of presence of mind it did not occur to them to prefer it. They 
were followed by the Protestant foot through the bog into a wood 

9 C/ w 

near the Lough, where no quarter being- given to any hut officers, five 
hundred of them took the water, and of these only one man escaped 
drowning; he got away safely by good swimming, though many shots 
were fired after him. During the whole of this night the pursuers 
were heating about the bu lies for the Irish, and their officers were 
unable to recal themfroni the pursuit till next morning, by which 


143 


time scarcely a man who had fled from them into the hog escaped 
death. There was a very remarkable stroke given by Captain William 
Smith in this battle : with one blow of his sword lie cut ofl the upper 
part of a man’s skull, just under the hat. As much of the skull as 
was within the hat, with all the brains it contained, was struck away 
from the under part of it, and not so much as a fibre of the skin re¬ 
mained to keep them together. General M‘Carty, whom James had 
a short time before created Lord Mount-Cashel, remained with five or 
six officers, in a wood near the place of action, from which he rode 
out suddenly and fired a pistol on those who were guarding the artil¬ 
lery. A shot from one of them immediately killed his horse under 
him, and a musket was clubbed to knock out his brains, when he re¬ 
ceived quarter from Captain Cooper. Being asked, why he hazarded 
his life so rashly, when he might have gone off with his cavalry ? he 
replied, that as he saw the kingdom was likely to he lost, with his own 
army; which, with the exception of that before Derry, then much 
broken, was the best in king James's service, he came upon the artil¬ 
lery guard with a design to lose his life, and was sorry he had missed 
his aim, being unwilling to out-live that day. 

This -was probably the greatest victory which had ever been ob¬ 
tained over the Irish. They amounted to six thousand men, and 
were thus routed by one-third of that number. In the morning and 
afternoon of the day, two thousand of them were killed, five hundred, 
as already mentioned, were drowned in Lough Erne, and their Gene¬ 
ral, with a great many other officers, and four hundred prisoners were 
sent to Enniskillen. The Irish confessed that three thousand of their 
men were wanting, when those who remained arrived in Dublin, but 
they would not own that so many had been killed as had been report¬ 
ed; in shame for having been defeated by an army so inferior in num¬ 
ber, they alleged that the chief loss was by desertion on their retreat. 
They lost seven pieces of artillery, fourteen barrels of gun-powder, a 
great quantity of cannon and musquet-balls, all their drums, and every 
stand of colours which they possessed. The loss on the side of the 
Enniskilleners was only two officers, Captain Robert Corry, arid En¬ 
sign William Bell, with about twenty private men, who were killed. 
The victors would now have marched to Dublin, as the Irish appre¬ 
hended, to their great terror and consternation, and in all probability 
have carried all before them, had they not discovered, by a letter 
found in General M‘Carty’s pocket, when he was taken, informing 
him that the Duke of Berwick, with an army from Deny, was to he 
at Enniskillen cn a certain day, when Colonel Sarsfield, the writer of 
the letter, would invest it on the Connaught side with his army, then 
at Bundroose. The victorious army therefore returned w ith their 
prisoners and plunder to Enniskillen. 

On the second of August, they W’ent to meet Sarsfield on his w 7 ay 
from Bundroose, hut before they had got half way, an -express arriv- 


M to them from Captain TolViot, informing them that trie Iriwfi arflwf 
at Bundroose had retreated to Sligo, and that the arms and ammuni¬ 
tion intended for them hy General Kirk had been landed at Bally- 
shannon. Three troops of horse, and as many companies of foot were 
sent to besiege it, and the rest returned to Enniskillen, resolved to go 
in quest of the Dnke of Berwick’s army, in Donegal ; but on the 
fourth of the month they heard of the relief of Londonderry, and so 
contented themselves with sending Lieutenant William Charleton with 
a troop of detached horse, to hang upon the retreating enemy’s rear, 
and watch their movements. lie returned to Enniskillen in three days 

•' , -i * 

afterwards, and reported that he had seen the rear of them pass hy 
Castle Caulfield, within three miles of Dungannon, on their march to 
Charlemont. On the seventh a solemn day of thanksgiving was ob¬ 
served in Enniskillen for the great victory which God had given them 
over their enemies, and for the peace which they enjoyed by it,' after 
the doubts and terrors of a bloody campaign ; and after Divine Service, 
the following Address from the Governor, Officers, Clergy, and other 
.inhabitants of the town, was drawn 1 up and sent to King W illiam and 
Queen Mary. The hearer of it, was the Rev. Andrew Hamilton, 
Hector of Kelskerry, in the Diocese of Cloghcr, who, like his admi¬ 
rable cotemporary, George W alker, was the recorder of the actions of 
liis fellow-soldiers, as well as their counsellor in the hour of doubt- 

' i 

and suffering :— ; " * •. * 

“ We, your Majesties most fafhfbT and loyal subjects, do in the first place offer 
vp unto Almighty God, our most humble thanks for the deliverance vouchsafed 
ns from our merciless and bloody enemies ; and next unto your most sacred Ma¬ 
jesties, for your gracious care taken of us, in sending Major-General Kirk, to 
the relief of the poor handful of your Majesty’s Protestant subjects left in this 
place and Perry, whose miraculous holding out, under God, has been the pre¬ 
servation of the Protestant interest in this kingdom; and for those Worthy officers 
sent to this place by him. among which, the Honourable Colonel William Wolse- 
ley, our Commander-in-chief, under whose great and happy conduct, God has 
been pleased to bless us with the most signal and remarkable victory obtained over 
cur enemy, in this or the former age. And as we were early in the demonstra¬ 
tion of our loyalty, in proclaiming your most sacred Maiesties on the eleventh of 
March last, so we shail persevere in tire same dutiful allegiance to our lives end, 
ever imploring the Divine Majesty to continue your prosperous reign long over 
us ; most humbly begging your most sacred Majesties, favourably to accept this 
Address ot our most humble and sincere obedience, which vve shall ever be ready- 
to make good both with our hearts and hands.” 


Thomas Lloyd. 
Thomas Hart. 
Kdward Dixy. 
Daniel Dodson. 
William Smith. 
Morgan Hart. 
Alexander Achescn. 
Isaac Collyer. 


Gustav us Hamilton, < 

| George Dury. 
i Thomas White. 

1 William Wiseheart. 
1 Robert Moore. 

] Francis Folliot. 
j John Dean. 

| Francis Graham. 

} William Irvine. 


•err.or. 

| James Graham, 
t Thomas Roscrow. 

; Matthew Webster. 

1 William Slack. 

| Alan Cathcavt. 
j Andrew Hamilton. 
\ James Johnston. 

| James Golden. 


Arnold Cosbye, 

Jo. Price. 

Robert Johnston. 
Francis Aldrich. 
William Parsons. 
Ambrose Bedell. 

II. Hughes. 

Jason Hazard. 
Thomas Hughes. 
Ichabod Skelson. 
Henry Howel. 

Robert Stevenson. 
William Birney. 
James King. 

Jo. Rider. 

Christopher Ca rleton. 
James Devitt. 

Charles Mac Fayden. 
Laurence Crow. 
Edward Ellis. 
William Blash ford. 
Robert Clark. 
William Browning. 
James Johnston. 
James Browni ng. 
Roger Wilton. 

Edward Wood. 

F. King. 

Robert Drury. 

John Browning. 
Andrew Montgomery'. 
Daniel French 
Henry Smith. 

Richard Newstead, 
Robert Sterling. 
Ilenry Johnston. 
Robert Wear. 
Malcolm Cathcari. 
Robert Robinson. 
Jaraes Matthews. 

M artin Armstrong. 


Claud Bealv. 

Nivian Scott. 

Thomas Armstrong. 

| Jo. Frisell- 

| Daniel Armstrong. 

[ Matthew Young. 

| Marcus Buchanan* 

\ George Watson; 

\ Ro. Mac Connell. 

| James Robinson; 

\ Jo. Roberts. 

| Robert Ward. 

I Bar. Gibson. 

I Joseph Crozier. 

\ Hugh Blair. 

Joseph King. 

Thomas Young. 

John Fulton. 

George Hart. 

James Matthews. 
Thomas Johnston. 
William Johnston, 
Thomas Osborne. 
Thomas Scott. 

John Lawder. 

William Kittle. 

James Lucy. 

Francis Ellis. 

Hercules Ellis. 

John Corry. 

Joseph Neper. 

James Corry. 

John Sheriffe. 

George Curry. 

Samuel Forth. 

James Catheart. 
Edward Cosbye. 
William Mac Comuck. 
William Campbell. 
Charles King. 

Hugh Montgomery, 


’ George Cooped 
Hugh Catheart. 
Hugh Corry. 
Edward Davenport. 
Aubry Ellis. 

Joseph Woodward. 
William Gore. 
William Chari cUm, 
George Russell. 
Aylet Sannnes. 
James Campbell. 
George Cashel. 
Povey Hooks. 

John Armstrong. 
Toby Molloy. 

Robert Vaughan. 
James Mitchell. 
Matthew Lindsay. 

Tl lonias Davenport. 
Allan Fulton. 

Paul Dean, ProvosU 
James Ewart. 

Joseph Ballard. 
Thomas Shore. 
Richard Taylor. 
Edward Gubbin. 
Thomas Leturvel. 
George Hammers! v. 
William Frith. 

Joseph Hall. 

Robert Johnston. 
Cornelius Donnellan. 
Tbeo. Bury. 

Hugh Galbraith. 
William Ross. 

John Galbraith. 
Matthew Young. 
James Delap. 

William Ball. 

Joseph Smith. . 


Tlie seventeenth signature to this address was that of Cornet James 
Graham of Mullinahioch, in the County of Fermanagh, great grand¬ 
father of the author of this work. On the fourth of August Captains 
White, Dobbin, and Hamilton, with the Rev. Thomas Jenny of 
Mullaghbrack, and the Rev. John Knox of Glaslough, were sent by 
the Governor to congratulate Major-General Kirk on his arrival in the 
city, and to thank him for having sent relief to it. Colonel Crofton 
had waited on him at Inch, desiring permission to lead out two or 
three hundred men to preserve the Protestant houses in the neigh- 
bourhoood from destruction, anti to secure a great quantity of cattle, 







which were likely to he lost, to their rightful owners. This proposal 
was unfortunately rejected, and the consequence was, that in a few 
days- afterwards some small parties of the Irish that remained after the 
retreating-army, burned Nn-Limavady and several gentlemens’ houses 
in the county of Londondeny. 

On the arrival of the Major-General, Governor Walker presented 
him" with the keys of the city, and wishing to return to Ins sacred 
profession, as soon as the dangers winch had called him from it had 
passed over, offered a surrender of his military command : Kirk de¬ 
clined to accept of either, bat allowed Walker to dispose of his regi¬ 
ment as he pleased, and was given by him 1o Captain White, as a token 
of respect for that gentleman s known merit. 

Walker then departed with the address to King William, of which 
the unmerited compliment to the unfeeling Major-General, formed 
the only objectionable part. Kirk then issued several proclamations ; 
one of these required, that all persons not in arms, should repair to 
their respective habitations ; a command reasonable enough had troops 
been allowed to protect the country from rapparees, and if they bad 
been permitted to take their substance with them. A particular order, 
however, was necessary for the removal of their goods, by which means, 
many who were compelled to remove from the city, were obliged to leave 
their beds and other necessary clothes behind them, so* that they re¬ 
turned to their plundered habitations, but ill provided for the approach¬ 
ing winter; and a considerable number of them, whose cattle had es¬ 
caped from the hands of the enemy, were now robbed of their stock, 
great droves of which were brought to the city. Mackinzie accuses 
Colonel Mitchelburn, to whom Kirk gave the government of the citv, 
of selling those cattle at a high rate to butchers ami other purchasers ; 
but this gallant officer, whose fair fame, like that of Walker, was as¬ 
sailed \vith great virulence at this time, was honourably acquitted of 
this and many other unfounded charges* 

The men and officers were now drawn out to the field by regiments, 
and they went out the more* chearfiilly, because it bad been reported 
that Kirk would have distributed two thousands pounds amongst them ; 
in this, however, they were disappointed, and many of the officers were 
doomed to be discarded to make room for the General’s favourites.—- 
The regiments of Mitchelburn and Crofton were united, and the latter 
officer reduced. The regiment of Harnill, of Lifford, was joined 
with Walker’s under the command of Captain White, to the severe 
injury of one of the most distinguished defenders of the city. Ilami// 
went to London to remonstrate against this unjust act, and to solicit 
compensation for his losses, and remuneration for his acknowledged ser* 
vices. Tlie tradition, in Lifford, records his disappointment; hi* 
only reward, according to it, being a civil reception and the present 
of a gold laced hat. But crowned heads cannot always afford to bo 


generous, and too many jnst claimants inevitably cause a bankniptrv 
of gratitude. Walker, as already noticed, fared better, and tbe Wi¬ 
dow of Captain Browning was honoured with a gold chain and a pen¬ 
sion. 

The regiment of Munro was incorporated with that of Lance’ 
and its commander reduced. An effort was made to add Mur¬ 
ray’s heroic cavalry to another regiment, but almost to a man they 
indignantly refused to submit to this arrangement, and went away to 
their different habitations with their carabines and pistols. Kirk seiz¬ 
ed their saddles, and to consumate his villiany, robbed Murray of his 
favourite horse, which had carried him victoriously through all bis 
rencounters with the enemy, and which he had preserved through 
every vicissitude of the siege. There is no record of this injured he- 
roe’s receiving any satisfaction for this gross injury, much less a suit¬ 
able reward for his distinguished services. The largest of tbe es¬ 
tates forfeited at this time would have been small enough to offer him ; 
and if he had a competitor in the numher and importance of his ser¬ 
vices, it was Major Arthur Noble of Lisnaskea, in the County of 
Fermanagh, who also went unrewarded in any other way than by an 
approving conscience and the enjoyment of liberty. Captain St. 
John was made Colonel of the regiment which had belonged to Go¬ 
vernor Baker, and to which Kirk wished to join Murray’s. This 
being done, the General named new Captains to most of the compa¬ 
nies, for the purpose of making provision for many dependants who 
had followed him from England ; these officers had the nomination 
of their own subalterns, so that almost all the officers who had 
served during the siege, including many who had raised their compa¬ 
nies, were, by this cruel proceeding, put out of the profession in 
which their services had highly distinguished them. Of those 
who were allowed to retain their companies which they had raised 
and armed at their own expense, many were compelled to give up 
fifteen of their men, to fill up the regiments whose new officers had 
not the means of recruiting them, and they were obliged to make 
np the deficiency on penalty of a dismissal from the King’s service. 
This was deeply resented in the garrison, and cast a shade over 
the general joy at their late happy deliverance from slavery. 
One of the Captains took the liberty of uttering a complaint, and 
instead of obtaining redress, was threatened with a gallows which 
Kirk had just ordered to he erected outside of the ravelin. Orders 
were aho given to the centries at the gates that no person should he 
allowed to pass out of them with any arms, and some who were 
passing out when the order came, were disarmed in consequence of 
if. This unexpected treatment seemed very harsh to the defenders 
of Londonderry, who could not conceive on what grounds they 
could he deprived of those arms which they had so lately used 
in a vigorous and successful defence ot the civil and religious liberties 

U 


148 


of their country'. The weak and sicldy soldiers had no allowance 
:from the public stores, which were shut up by Kirk’s order immedi¬ 
ately after his arrival from Ineh, and his cruel policy in this respect 
obliged them to leave the city and beg their bread as well as their 
weakness would permit them to do so in an exhausted country, during 
one of the wettest seasons which had occurred for many years : th* 
consequence of which was, that a great proportion of these deserv¬ 
ing men perished by hunger and disease. 

The new-modelled regiments which remained in the city were so 
straitened in their means of subsistence, that it was with difficulty 
they could maintain themselves. The following account of their 
means of subsistence may be deemed a curious statistical document. 2 
Colonels daily pay, five shillings; Lieutenant-Colonels three shil¬ 
lings ; Majors two and six pence ; Captains two shillings; Lieuten¬ 
ants twelve pence ; Ensigns eight pence ; serjeants, corporals, drum¬ 
mers and private men, three uence. The Enniskilieners were put; 
upon the same scanty allowance ; their heavy horsemen were allow¬ 
ed but nine pence, and their dragoons only six pence a day. 

On the seventh of August, the garrison ef Enniskillen, after a 
■public thanksgiving for their great victory over General M‘Carty, 
sent the Rev. Andrew Hamilton to Major-General Kirk, to congra¬ 
tulate him on his happy success on the relief of Londonderry. He 
was received very favourably by that officer, who sent him hack or 
the ninth of the same month, with orders to Colonel Wolseley to 
send lrim five hundred horse and two hundred dragoons, with which, 
and the force which lie had newly-modelled and incorporated with 
his own army, he marched in a few days afterwards to join Duke 
ScEcmberg in besieging Carrickfergus. 

To pursue the narrative of the actions of the men of Londonderry 
■and Enniskillen, any further at this time, would swell this volume 
to a size beyond the limits necessarily assigned to it, and it remains 
only to transmit to succeeding generations a record of celebrations of 
the closing and opening of the gates of the maiden city, on the arri¬ 
ve rsaries of those memorable events, in 1788 and 1822, in proof 
that the spirit of the men of Derry has continued through the lapse 
of time as unchanged and unchangeable as the genius of that intole¬ 
rant Church, winch first called it into action, and still keeps it on 
the alert, notwithstanding all the miserable efforts of shallow politi¬ 
cians to extinguish it, and prostrate our CIhucIi and Constitution at 
tke foot of an implacable foe :— 

On the fifteenth of October, 1788, John Coningham, Mayor, 
David Ross and H. Mitchell, Esq. Sheriffs, and Stephen Bennett, 
Esqrs. issued a notice that the Mayor and Corporation of Londonder¬ 
ry, zealous to revive in the breasts of the Protestant generation, and 
ira&smit to posterity such principles as actuated ikeir heroic -aucei- 


149 


tors, had resolved on a secular commemoration of tTie return of thafc 
memorable day, the seventh of Decemher, 1688, when the gates of 
their city were closed against a bigotted tyrant, a day so honourably 
interwoven with that grand sera of our Constitution, the Glorious 
Revolution, which, to our happy experience, has been terminated 
by extensive and elaborate provisions for the general liberty. On the 
fourth of November ensuing,, being the eve of that memorable day' 
which, under the sanction of the Act ®f the 17th and 18th of Char* 
les II. commonly called the Act of uniformity of public prayers, at 
day of public commemoration of the deliverance of King James I. 
and the Protestants of England, from the most traitorous and bloody 
intended massacre by gun-powder, and also for the happy arrival of 
King ^ r iLLrA]\r for the deliverance of our Church and Nation, has 
been appointed^. and a form"of prayer and thanksgiving for these bless¬ 
ings inserted in the Liturgy; a meeting was held in the Town-Hall 
of Londonderry, when it was unanimously resolved, that the pro¬ 
posal of tho Mayor and Corporation should be most chearfully acceded 
to, and that a secular commemoration: of the shutting of the 
gates should be held. It was also resolved, that a public monument? 
should be erected, to commemorate that glorious event, and a Com¬ 
mittee of the Corporation, consisting of Messrs. Bateson, Achison r 
Moore, and Schoales, should be added to those appointed by the 
Corporation ; Mr. Bateson to be Treasurer, and Mr. Achison, Secy, 

On Thursday, the seventh of December, (O’. Si) 1788, the dawn, 
was announced by the beating of drums, the ringing of bells, and a 
discharge of the cannon which had been used during the siege; and 
a red Hag, the emblem of a virgin city, was displayed on the Cathe¬ 
dral. If a magistrate or military officer had interfered to prevent the. 
hoisting of this flag or the ringing of these bells on this ocaasion, Iion 
would have been sent to a Lunatic Asylum, and the mob of all deno¬ 
minations would have pelted him with stones on the way. The city 
was almost immediately in. motion, each person seemed eager to bear 
his pait in the rejoicings of the day, and the glow of honest enthu¬ 
siasm was apparent in every countenance'. 

At half-past ten o’clock the Procession was formed upon th* 
Ship-Quay, and moved off in the following order 

The Corporation and City Regalia, 

The Clergy. 

Officers of the Navy. 

Forty-sixth Regiment. 

Londonderay Associated Volunteer Corps, 

Committee and Stewards. 

Merchants and principal Citizens, 

Merchants Apprentices, preceded by Mr. Murray, the great grand-son of Colonel 
M-mrayj carrying the sword with which his gallant ancestor slaw 
the French General Maumont. 

Tradesmens’ Apprentices, 


1-JO 


The Young Gentlemen of the Free-School. 

Masters of Ships, and Seamen. 

It is scarcely possible to do justice to the beautiful and august ap¬ 
pearance exhibited at this stage of the solemnity, nor was it easy to 
behold without the most lively emotion, so respectable a body of free 
citizens, thus publicly commemorating the heroic achievements of 
their ancestors, on the very spot which was the scene in which they 
were performed, a spot which should be as dear to the inhabitants of 
the British Isles, as the plains of Marathon were to the ancient Gre¬ 
cians. But the shew itself, distinct from the occasion, was extremely 
splendid ; every thing was suitable and becoming, nor was any cir¬ 
cumstance omitted that could add dignity to the scene. The univer- 
sal wearing of orange ribbons had a very happy effect, and the band 
of citizens, however otherwise respectable, received a vast addition 
to its interest from the elegant appearance of the Stewards who pre¬ 
ceded them, and consisted of the following young gentlemen of the 
city, dressed in a handsome uniform of blue and orange, viz.:— 
George Schoales, George Curry, Andrew Ferguson, George Kncx, 
Iloirer Harrisort, and William Armstrong, Esqrs. 

The Cathedral could not possibly have admitted the multitude who 
composed the procession, had not every necessary precaution been 
used. The city never, never before witnessed so throng an assem¬ 
bly ; the galleries, the aisles, and all the avenues of the Church were 
crowded, and many hundreds returned unable to obtain entrance. 

Divine Service being performed, an admirable sermon was deliver¬ 
ed by the Very Reverend Dean Hume. His text was Josiiua iv. 
2J. Nothing could be better-adapted to the occasion, or more re¬ 
plete with just and elevated sentiments. After the sermon, a selec¬ 
tion of Sacred Music was performed from the Oratorio of Judas 
Maccahoeus, in which that fine air so well suited to the occasion, 
“ Tis Liberty dear Liberty alone,” seemed to giver the highest 
satisfaction to the auditory. '• ? 

From the Church the procession marched in the same order to the 
Meeting-house, where the Rev. Mr. Black delivered an oration, 
which evinced at once his knowledge of British History, and his. ar¬ 
dent zeal for liberty. ~ ... 

On returning from the Meeting-house a scene unexpectedly pi e-' 
sen ted itself to the eye, as novel as it was agreeable to the beholders, 
bis Majesty’s ship the Porcupine, commanded by Captain Brabazori, 
appeared in the harbour. She was completely dressed, or rather co¬ 
vered over with a variety of the most splendid colours, and formed a 
spectacle equally majestic and beautiful: she came oir purpose to do 
honour to ihe festival. On approaching the Quay, she was saluted 
by a discharge of twenty-one guns from the ramparts, which she re* 
turned with an-equal number*': 1 he Sea-fiower, a cutter belon«iii" 
to his Majesty’s Navy, accompanied her, and added to ihe grandeur 
of the blew. So large a Hub of war was never before seen in the Far- 


< > * 


> 



151 


bouv of Londonderry. The Dartmouth, hy which the city was re¬ 
lieved in 1689, came; nearest to her in size, and it is not unworthy of 
remark, that the point ot time in which the Porcupine and Sea-flower 
appeared, was the very same in which the Dartmouth and Phoenix 
were first discovered by the distressed garrison, viz. when the 
citizens were assembled at Divine Service in the Cathedral. Thus, 
hy a happy coincidence, the approach of those vessels formed a most 
lively representation of that memorable event, the relief of Lon¬ 
donderry. The first procession had scarcely terminated when ano¬ 
ther of a different kind commenced. Some of the lower class of citi¬ 
zens had provided an effigy representing the well-known Lundy, 
executed ill a very humorous stile, with & bundle of matches on its 
hack ; with this they perambulated the streets, and having repeatedly 
exposed it to the insults of the zealous populace, they burned it in 
the Market-place with every circumstance of ignominy. This piece 
of pageantry afforded no small entertainment to innumerable specta¬ 
tors, nor was it barren of instruction Ip an attentive mind, as it 
marked out in striking characters the unavoidable destiny of Trai¬ 
tors, who having sacrificed to their own base interests, the dearest 
rights of honour and conscience, are deservedly consigned over to 
perpetual infamy, and become everlasting objects of detestation even 
to the meanest of the people. 

At two O'clock the forty-sixth Regiment, and the Volunteer Corps 
paraded. The Apprentice Boys’ Company, commanded by Captain 
Bennet, went through the ceremonial of shutting the Gates, sup¬ 
ported by the Regulars and Volunteers in columns. They then re¬ 
turned to the Diamond with King James’s colours in triumph, where 
a feu-de-joye was filed, in concert with the batteries upon the ram¬ 
parts, and the ships in the harbour. 

At four o’clock the, Mayer and Corporation, the Clergy, the Offi¬ 
cers of the Navy and Army, the Clergy of the Church of Rome, the 
Gentlemen from the Country, the Volunteers, Citizens, Scholars and 
Apprentices, &e. sat down to a plain hut plentiful dinner in the 
Town-Hall. The toasts, were constitutional and well suited to the 
occasion ; no man was idiot enough to object to drink to The Glo¬ 
rious Memory of that great Prince who saved the Religion of the 
Protestant and the liberty of all other professors of Christianity.— 
The assembly ivas necessarily mixed, and extremely crowded, rise 
guests amounting nearly to a thousand persons, and yet regularity, 
decorum, and complacency pervaded the whole company. Religious 
dissentions, in particular, seemed to be buried in oblivion, and Roman 
Catholics vied with'Protestants in expressing, by every possible mark, 
their sense of the blessings secured to them hy the event which they 
were commemorating, and the part which they took in the celebration 
of this joyful (lay w as really cordial, standing on record in strong con¬ 
trast with the brutal ignorance of the agitators of the present day, 
v, ho load the came of their deliverer with obloquy, and consider tine 


honours paid to his memory as an [insult to their religion. 

Among the guests on this interesting occasion was a man who Fiacf 
been acctually present at the siege ; born a short time before the in¬ 
vestment of the city, he was nursed in a cellar during the whole of 
that memorable time. The company were much struck with the sin¬ 
gularity of the circumstance, and ga?j?d with intense interest upon the 
venerable old man, who had breathed the same atmosphere with the 
immortal Walker, Mitchelhurn, and Murray. A subscription was set 
©n foot, for the purpose of raising the necessary means of protecting 
this veteran from the icy grasp of poverty in extreme old age. 

In the afternoon the soldiers were liberally entertained in their bar- 
Kicks ; and several houses were opened for the accommodation of the 
sailors, where they were plentifully regaled with beef, punch, &c. 8cc. 

The windows of the town-hall were ornamented by splendidly illu¬ 
minated paintings, designed and executed by the ingenious Mr, lilack* 
The subjects and disposition of them were as follows* viz— 

F ER R Y - Q, U A Y - $ T R E E T . 

The Shutting of the Gates by the Apprentice Boys. 

BISHOP-STREET. 

The genius of Londonderry fixing the imperial Crown upon the head of Ktng- 
Wii liam, and trampling on a figure representing despotism ; at the top was th£ 
date of a proclamation made in this city of the accession of that great Prince and 
his illustrious Consort to the throne.—March 20th, JGtfJ. 

BUTCHER-STREET. 

A monument: upon the right cf the basement, the Rev. George WALKER^ 
with a sword and Bible, and under it a trophy with the date of his appointment. 
On the left Colonel Murray; at his feet the body of the French General Mau- 
mont, and beneath, a trophy, with the date of the combat, April 21, 1689. 
In the centre of the basement was exhibited a view of Londonderry. On the 
©enter of the pyramid, a figure of Fame, with a laurel, bearing a medallion, in 
which the genuis of the Maiden City appeared in contest with a tyger. At the 
top an urn. 

SHIP-QUAY-STREET. 

The Relief of Londonderry, a view from the barrack rampart. The 
British ships appeared emerging from the smoke, after the breaking of the boom* 
the garrison rejoicing in different attitudes. At a distance King James’s army 
striking their tents, and retiring in confusion. 

Besides these, many transparent pictures appeared in different parts 

the town. The houses were splendidly illuminated, and a grand 
display of fire-works from Shipquay-gate concluded the entertainments, 
ef the evening. 

On the following day the festival was continued ; and that every 
class of people might have some entertainment suited to their peculiar 
taste, the carcase of an Ox, decorated with orange ribbons, was 
drawn at noon through the principal streets to the Diamond. It was 
afterwards cut into pieces, and distributed with bread and beer to poor 
house-keepers. 


In the evening the festival was conduced with a ball and supper. 
The company was more numerous than had ever been seen on any 
former occasion, yet every thing was conducted with propriety and re¬ 
gularity. The general decorum that was preserved, both at the bait 
and at the entertainment the preceding day, was owing, in a great 
degree, to the gentlemen who acted as stewards. The committee de¬ 
served much applause for this well-judged arrangment, and the gen¬ 
tlemen themselves were entitled to the thanks of the citizens, for their 
care in preserving good order, and in accommodating the company. 
During the continuance of the festival, the weather was peculiarly fa¬ 
vourable; and we leant with very great pleasure, that no disagreeable 
accident happened, although the contrary might have been feared, 
from the prodigious multitudes that thronged together, especially at 
the Cathedral and the Meeting-house on Thursday. Throughout tlio 

whole of this business no sentiment was more universally observable 

* 

than that of love to the Sovereign. The day bad scarcely dawn¬ 
ed when “ God save the King” sounded from the bells ; with the 
same tune the Procession was both received and dismissed at the 
Cathedral. It was the favourite song in the entertainment on Thurs¬ 
day, and it was sung in full chorus at the ball on Friday. In short, 
it was apparent, that although the joy natural to the occasion, was 
strongly felt and universally diffused, it was deeply blended with an 
affectionate concern for our beloved and afflicted Monarch. 

Thus terminated the festival. Judicious in its origin, respectable 
in its progress, and happy in its conclusion. The event and its com¬ 
memoration, it may he said, were worthy of each other. No religi¬ 
ous animosities, no illiberal reflections on past events poisoned the 
general joy and triumph. The genius of Ireland seemed to preside, 
repressing in the Protestants ail irritating marks of exultation, and 
exciting in the Roman Catholics the feelings of thankfulness for the 
•deliverance of their persons and properties from the shackles of a 
lawless and intolerable despotism. 

r/M/ /v .-a’ rr« **+++ //w# 



GLORIOUS FIRST OF AUGUST , O. S. 

TIIE ANNIVERSARY OF THE RELIEF OF LONDONDERRY. 


(From ihe Londonderry Journal.) 

. “ After the usual ceremonies of the day, a royal salute of twenty- 
#ne guns fired from the ramparts gave notice, at seven o clock in the 
evening, that the usual festivities weie to commence. In less than 
half an hour the tables in the gteat hall of the County Sessions-}muse 
were completely filled, and presented to the view nearly one thousand 
loyal citizen®, devotedly and unalterably attached to the King and 


Constitution. At the upper end of tire hail manjr of the most respec¬ 
table of the citizens were assembled. Sir George Hill and Mr. Daw¬ 
son, our esteemed Representatives, accompanied by several of our 
Country Gentlemen of the first respectability, and many cf the stran¬ 
gers who came to attend our Race meeting, entered the ball about 
eight o’clock ; they were received with loud and repeated cheers, and 
Sir George Iliil was called to the Chair. 

In the course of the evening the following toasts were given. Tim 
first was announced l»y the Right Honourable Chairman with happy 
allusion to the concurrence of the King’s birth-day, the accession of 
the House of Brunswick, and the anniversary of his present Majes¬ 
ty's landing in Ireland :— 

Our beloved King George IV.; may he have a lung and prosperous, reign.— 
J our times four. 

The Duke of Yarkand the Army.—Three times three. 

The Duke of Clarence and the Navy.—Three times three. 

Our distinguished Chief Governor, the Marquis Wellesley, and prosperity f* 
Ireland —Three times three. 

The seventh of December, 1688, the anniversary of the Shutting of the 
Gates of Londonderry. 

Sir George Hill then said, he was about to propose a toast 

t nidi he trusted would he drank in this loval city with reverential re- 

* « 

bjiect and enthusiasm ; it naturally followed the one which he had just 
given. On the seventh of December 1688, our gallant ancestors, de¬ 
votedly attached to the Crown, the Laws, and the liberties of the 
Realm, determined, under the guidance of Providence, to close their 
gates against a rebel army of twenty thousand men, led on and 
commanded by a foreigner and a Frenchman, the cruel and sanguinary 
Mareschal De Rosen. To those who are acquainted with that event¬ 
ful and interesting period of our local history, it was unnecessary to 
recapitulate the gallant deeds and unexampled sufferings of our uncon¬ 
querable forefathers; they form a distinguished feature in the page of 
history, and contributed in a main degree to the establishment of our 
matchless Constitution. During a protracted siege of six months, in 
which half the garrison felhby famine and* the sword, and amidst suf¬ 
ferings which, if equalled in the annals of war, were never surpassed ; 
no threats, no promises, no fears had any effect upon them, and when 
they were reduced to the last stage of suffering, and sinking under 
famine and pestilence, it pleased tiie Almighty to crown their pa¬ 
triotic efforts with a glorious victory. On the first of August 1689. 
the memorable day on which, making allowance for the alteration i;s 
style, we, their descendants, have now met to commemorate, the 
gallant Captain Browning, in the Dartmouth frigate, hurst the boom 
which had been thrown across the river, and brought a supply of pro¬ 
visions and ammunition to the city; and on the night of that day the 
rebel army disappeared from before our walls. He would therefor* 
give 

w “The first August 1689, and the gallant Apprentice Roys of De/ry, 
vho maintaned this unexampled siege,” 


This toast was received with the loudest acclamation, and drank 
with repeated huzzas. 

“ The Glorious Memory of the Great and Good King William.”— 
Three times three. 

Alderman Murray then proposed 

“ The City of Londonderry and our respected Chairman, thi Right 
Honorable Sir George Hill ; may he long continue to represent us.” 

This toast was drank, as it always is, with loud and repeated cheers. 

Sir George Ilill thanked the Meeting for the manner in which thev 
had been pleased to drink his health, coupled as it was with this loyal 
and independent city. Proud, indeed, must any man feel at being 
the Representative of such a body of men, devotedly attached, as they 
were, to their Sovereign and our happy Constitution. Any man might 
feel proud at being surrounded by such a phalanx as here presented it¬ 
self, all animated by the same spirit of loyalty which has ever distingi ish- 
ed the Citizens of Londonderry. He congratulated the Meeting on the 
cumber and respectability of these assembled ; he described, in strong 
and pointed terms, how valuable the appearance and support of such 
characters were in encouraging the Citizens of Derry to cherish and 
maintain the genuine principles which actuated the founders of the Con¬ 
stitution, and which have remained unimpaired within these walls, to 
the present time. In an assemblage of so many hundreds, it was im¬ 
possible for him to notice each individual, but he named, with great 
satisfaction, those immediately round him, the Schoaleses, the 
Murrays, the Skiptons, the Currys, the Chamberses, the 
M‘Clintocks, the Darcuses, the Gages, the Kennedys, the 
Royds, the Stewarts, the Hunters, the Cromptons, and 
though last, not least of his Citizen Friends, Mr. James Gregg. He 
was also happy to direct the attention of the assembly to a number of 
distinguished strangers, who had come to witness the scene of loyalty, 
and begged leave to conclude by proposing the health of his distinguish¬ 
ed friend, upon his right hand, George Robert Dawson, Esquire, 
one of our esteemed County Representatives, who has proved himself 
worthy of our confidence, by his steady advocacy of the interests of his 
Country, and who would thus have an opportunity of witnessing tlm 
enthusiastic and undiminished spirit of loyalty and zeal which animates 
the Citizens and Apprentice Roys of Londonderry. Sir George con¬ 
cluded by drinking their healths, and again repeated the names of Mr. 
Dawson and the respectable Assemblage of persons near him. The 
toast was drank with loud cheering. As soon as silence was restored, 
Mr. Dawson thus addressed the Meeting — 

“ Gentlemen —As my friend, Sir George Iliil, has placed me foremost cn 
the list of these whom he has designated as friends of the cause for which you are 
assembled here to-day, 1 beg leave to return you thanks on their behalf, and on 
*i>y own, for the honour which you have conferred upon us. 

“ Tor every reason, public and private, I rejoice that I have had an opportu¬ 
nity pf attending the Celebration of this Day in Derry, privately, because it has 
been the means of introducing to me many persons by whom I was unknown, and 
who were unknown to me-before, and of whose acquaintance I shall be proud 

V 


15(3 


fct'any future period of my life; and publicly, because it is Useful for a public 
man, for your Representative in Parliament, to witness the expression of public 
feeling by which he can regulate, if necessary, his own conduct or at least be sup¬ 
ported in proclaiming it in that place to which you send him, and where the exis¬ 
tence of Such a feeling, as that which animates the preseiit company, is but little 
known, and I am sorry to say, too little appreciated.— {Hear, heur.J Gentle¬ 
men, I am sure you will believe me, when I say, that I neVer attended any en¬ 
tertainment with greater pleasure than I do the present one. It is an entertain¬ 
ment which ho person, with the feelings of a man, can witness without those sen¬ 
timents of respect and admiration, which the recollection of long sufferings and 
beroic deeds must invariably create ; it is an entertainment which differs, in this 
respect, from every other which it has been my fate to attend. Other feasts may 
be more costly, but are composed of motley groups, of high and low', of rich and 
poor, clergy and laity, naval and military men, yet having no distinctive character; 
but here I can define my society in two words, words than which there can be 1 
rone more honourable to the human heart, and bearing a character of which all 
may be justly proud ; here I find myself surrounded by the descendants of heroes 
and of patriots, some rich and some poor, a distinction which must exist as long 
as the world shall last; but all honorable men, all the children and representatives 
of inflexible, undaunted, and uncompromising Patriots.— (Hear , hear, hear .)— 
Gentlemen, I say, when 1 find myself surrounded by such a society, on the an¬ 
niversary of such a day, when sufferings, if not unparalled, at least not exceed¬ 
ed in the history of the world, were terminated, I should be dead to the feelings 
of a man if I did not feel a kindred glow of that enthusiasm which animated 
your forefathers; if 1 did not catch a spark of that fire, which Iras shed its pure, 
its hallowed, and I trust its unquenchable splendour around your city;— (Cheers.) 
Gentlemen, it has been said, by the most celebrated writer of his day, or indeed 
of any day, that he did not envy the man whose veins did not warm on the plains 
of Marathon, or whose piety did not glow ainid the ruins of Iona; I only ask 
the same permission for this day. Dr. Johnson claimed the admiration of poste¬ 
rity for these Grecian heroes who saved their country ; I claim from every brave 
and loyal spirit of the present age, the proper tribute of applause which is due to 
the descendants of the gallant men, who not only saved their country in their own 
day, but transmitted its CONSTITUTION pure and uncontaminated to their posteri¬ 
ty.— (Hear.) Gentlemen, I own these are the feelings which actuate me upon 
the present occasion.— (Hear . ) I came here to celebrate the anniversary of a 
great and glorious event; I have no party feelings to gratify, but I consider that 
by the courage and inflexible virtue of your forefathers, the cause of freedom w as 
preserved, and the foundation laid for our Glorious Constitution in Church and 
State.— (Hear, hear, hear.) With these sentiments, I rejoice to have an opportu¬ 
nity of meeting the Freemen of Londonderry. I care not how my presence here 
may be misconstrued ; I care not for the seditous Press of the north of Ireland— 
(hear, hear, hear,) —nor for the radical Press of England or Scotland,— (hear, 
hear,) —they have no terrors for me, the louder their cries against your meeting, 
the more I admire the spirit which induces you to assemble here, and proclaim to 
the world that the Freemen of Derry are as regardless of the Jacobins of the pre¬ 
sent day, as their forefathers were unterrified at the Jacobites of the former age.— 
(Cheers.) Gentlemen, I consider the cause of your meeting here as inseperable 
from the recollections of the Citizens of Derry, as it it is from the history' of 
their City; as well might you be asked to pluck the example of your ancestors 
from your minds, as the record of their deeds from the page of history ; there 
they must and will live as long as mankind shall feel delight in recording the ex¬ 
ploits of heroism and courage ; and I trust you will never cease to recite these 
examples to your children, to serve them as they have served you, as beacons of 
loyalty, in times of danger and trouble.—/' Hear, hear.) It is a glorious thing 
for any public man, to find himself backed by such supporters in the present age. 



Your voices proclaim that we are all animated by the same spirit—/ Cheer*, )-~-ani\ 
I should be unworthy of your cheers, if did not give you the most unequivocal 
assurance of standing forward as the defender of your privileges, and in raising 
my voice to the last moment of my life in the defence of our mutual principles. 
(Hear , hear) This is no vague pledge ; the Anniversary of this day is the test of 
the firmness and inflexibility of your characters, and the memory of your forefa¬ 
thers, shall be the oath by which I bind myself to support their principles.— 
] (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, these are the motives of my presence here to day, 
and 1 think no man, however fastidious, no man however opposed to me in poli¬ 
tics, can deny me this honest enjoyment, or attribute any other motive, than such 
as I have expressed..— {Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, if I may add a word of admo¬ 
nition, it is this ; to avoid giving, ojur enemies any handle against us. On our se¬ 
paration, let us all retire to our homes, as peaceably as we assembled here ; let 
us close the day with the same forbearance and moderation which distinguished, 
the proceedings qf the morning.— ‘{Hear, hear.) —-Let us maintain our character, 
unsullied, for superior intelligence and moderation, and let not our enemies have 
(occasion to say, that we forgot for a moment the cause of our assembling here. 
Gentlemen, the times are come, when the affairs of Ireland form a grand topic of 
discussion in the Parliament of the Empire.— {Hear, hear.) The representatives 
pf Ireland differ widely in their opinions, as to the causes of its misery, but what¬ 
ever their opinions upon general topics may be, one sentiment is unanimous ; that 
it is the duty of every man, to encourage brotherly love ; to make no distinction 
*f party, and to support the laws*— {hear, hear) Where these sentiments do nut 
prevail, mark the consequences ; the South of Ireland has been a prey to two of 
the most dreadful evils that can afflict a nation: ' Providence has inflicted 
famine upon the wretched inhabitants, and man has superadded.rebellion. The 
same kind Providence has preserved you from the scouige of famine, and your own 
loyalty has saved you from the stain of rebellion. Persevere in this good course ; 
you know the value of the laws, and let nothing induce you to violate them, either 
to your King or your neighbonr.—/ Hear.) How proudly I have raised my head 
during the discussions upon the state cf Ireland, in the Hpusecf Commons; whet) 
the character of the country has been arraigned ; v/hen blood, and massacre, and 
rape, and rebellion, have been quoted in dreadful succession, as the characteris¬ 
tics of the country, how proudly have I felt, when I could say ; we know them 
not in the North— {hear)-— we admire and we support the laws— {hear, hear )—- 
and if blood has been shed , it is ih the armies of our King.— (Cheers.) Such a 
contrast must make any man proud of representing you ; and, I trust, that by a 
continued adherence to this high minded loyalty to your King,Torbearance to your 
opponents, if you have any, and good will to your neighbours, you will maintain 
the character which has distinguished you, and allow ine the enjoyment of being’ 
the proudest Representative in Parliament,”— (Loud and continued Cheering.) 

As soon as Mr. Dawson concluded, the hall rang for several mi¬ 
nutes. The manner in which his speech was received proved that 
his sentiments were in entire unison with those whom he addressed. 

Mr. Chambers returned thanks for the honour they had done him 
in drinking his health. Some of his ancestors, he said, had held ho¬ 
nourable situations in the Loyal Corporation of Londonderry, at the 
period they were now commemorating. His own principles were 
well known to them all, and he hoped they would continue to cele¬ 
brate the event in spite of all their enemies, until time should be no 
more. 

Sir George Hill next proposed the health of the Officers, Non- 
Commissioned Officers, and Privates of the Londonderry Yeomanry, 




153 


wIiOFe exemplary conduct, during tlie time they had charge of the 
Garrison, in the course of last winter and spring, and whose appear¬ 
ance this day, and the regularity and precision with which they went 
through their different evolutions, not less than their forbearance from 
doin? any act which could give the slightest cause of offence to any 
description of people, entitled them to their warmest thanks and ap¬ 
probation. 

Mr. Gregg, Captain of the rifle company, returned thanks for the 
compliment paid to the yeomanry in drinking their healths. He trust¬ 
ed they would always merit the confidence of their Fellow-Citizens, and 
assured them that the spirit which animated the Apprentice Boys of 
I (P S, remained unabated. 

The Chairman next gave the health of a Gentleman then present 
with whom he regretted he had not before an opportunity of being ac- 
qunbited. A Gentleman who had devotedly employed his valuable ta¬ 
lents in supporting the principles of the Constitution, and whose poetical 
genius had contributed to the celebration of this day, he meant the 
Keverend John Graham. 

The toast was received and drank with repeated cheers. 

Mr, Graham then rose, and returned thanks in the following 
words 

“ Gentlemen —I beg leave to offer you my warmest thanks for the honour 
•which you have conferred upon me, by associating my name and humble services 
with these of the distinguished friends of the Constitution assembled here on this 
occasion- To receive the meed of applause from such men, in such a place, from 
the descendants of the heroes who defended this maiden City in 1689, and on this 
classic ground, the scene of their sufferings and their triumph, is to me a proud 
distinction, which more than compensates the labours of a life devoted to the 
maintenance of the Protestant Religion. 

The events which you have so long been in the habit of thus celebrating, are 
intimately connected with the rights, liberties, and happiness of every subject in 
the British Empire. Had this renowned City been reduced by the armies of the 
abdicated King, had the death of the dearest relatives of the besieged, or their ow n 
suffering and dangers, induced them to retract their pold resolve, and consent to a 
wurrender, such was the critical state of 'affairs at that time on the other side of St. 
George’s Channel, that the effort to accomplish the Revolution must have failed ; 
"William would have shared the fate of Monmouth $ the tyrant Hushed with suc¬ 
cess, irritated by the efforts which had been made to get rid of him, and armed with 
an accession of arbitrary power, would have sent forth another Jeffries to renew 
his judicial massacres, and the surviving Protestants might have ‘ sat down by the 
waters of Babylon, hung their harps upon the willows, and wept at the remem¬ 
brance of their Zion.’ But while the vanquished should feel the lash of persecu¬ 
tion, what would have been the condition of the instruments of their subjugation? 
They would have soon found out, that their principal achievement had been the 
prostraction of their own civil and religious liberties ; their success would have 
proved a subject of unavailing regret, and they would have cursed the luckless 
day, which gave them victory. Taxed w ithout being represented, deprived of the 
liberty to renounce the fatal errors of the Church of Rome, which many of their 
descendants have done ; trampled under foot by a combination of foreign and do¬ 
mestic despotism, they would have held their lives and properties on the frail te- 
nure.of a Minister’s caprice or a Jesuit’s favour; 1 allege therefore, without fear 


159 


v>F contradiction from any sound lawer in the British Dominions that Tit ERE *»■}',T, 
no legal ok Constitutional grounds of offence in the observance of 
T iiEsE Anniversaries, and that it is a gross and dangerous error to suppose 
so. To the event which we are now celebrating, viewed in connection with its 
direct results, we, in common with every other denomination of his Majesty’s 
Subjects, are indebted for the Bill of rights, the Habeas Corpus Act, the Trial by 
Jury, the Freedom of the Press, and Liberty to worship God according to the 
dictates of our conscience. In tins view of our Constitution, within the memory 
of many here present, this anniversary was decidedly popular, not afl'ording pre¬ 
tence for dissension, but opportunities of patriotic festivity. The Titular Prelates 
•and Clergy, men who had travelled, and seen the world, often joined in the cele¬ 
bration of it, and not unfrequently toasted the memory of that great Prince, wl:o 
was the favoured instrument of Heaven in saving our religion and their liberty. 
In this spirit, and in no other do we celebrate the memory of our wise and valiant 
ancestors, and we retire from these happy meetings ‘fearing God, honouring the 
King, and intermeddling not with those who arc* given to change.* ” 

Mr. H. Crompton begged to remind Sir George Hill, that he had 
repeated the names, and drank the health of several Gentlemen around 
him, but there was one not less distinguished than any of the rest who 
isat near him, and whom lie had totally omitted ; a Gentleman who 
possessed the respect, the esteem and regard of his Fellow-Citizens, in 
a not less eminent degree than any present at this meeting ; a Gentle¬ 
man to whom the Mercantile and Shipping Interest of Derry were 
deeply indebted, whose kindness, zeal, and exertions on every oc¬ 
casion where lie could protect or advance, or facilitate the trade of this 
Port, have been at all times most conspicuous. It was unnecessary for 
Jiim to say more than to name Captain Iiill, our respected Collector. 

This eutogium on the character of Captain Hill, which was delivered 
with great energy, was received with the loudest acclamations, and his 
health drank with repeated cheers. 

Mr. Hill returned thanks for this unexpected compliment, and for 
the kind and warm feelings with which his health was received, by such 
a body of his Fellow-Citizens, and assured them it should ever be hia 
duty to deserve and maintain their good opinion. 

After this toast there was a general call.for the health of Mr. Peel, 
which was immediately given, and received with loud acclamation. 

About ten o’clock the whole company broke up, highly gratified with 
the spirit and unanimity that Had prevailed during ^ie evening, and de¬ 
termined to keep up a custom which is calculated to hand down unim¬ 
paired to their posterity, the principles that actuated their brave ances¬ 
tors, and which are the best bulwarks cf their Laws, Liberties and 
Religion. . ,,. v . 


RESOLUTIONS AND ADDRESS 


FREEMEN 


OF THE 

AND FREEHOLDERS 


OF THE CITY OF LONDONDERRY, 

Against “ The Catholic Boafd,” on the Sik of February , 1814. 



At a time when an assembly of turbulent Demagogues, styling them¬ 
selves the Catholic Board, sat in the metropolis of Ireland, and agi¬ 
tated the peace of the country in a most alarming manner, by inflamma-. 
tory speeches and seditious practices, it appeared necessary to the in¬ 
habitants of the ancient and loyal City of Londonderry to remonstrate 
against that frightful anomaly, in a civilized country, and the following 
Documents, relative to their successful effort to put down that Asso¬ 
ciation, may be re-published with great propriety at a time when the 
monster has again raised its portentous head, notw ithstanding the mild % 
paternal efforts of a Government, which, in the vain attempt to concili¬ 
ate those people whose claims to power it assumes to vindicate, has run 
no small risque of alienating the alfectious of thirteen millions of Pro¬ 
testants in the British Empire. 

It is but justice to record, that the Rev. George Hay, the re¬ 
spectable Presbyterian. Minister of Londonderry, was very active on 
this important occasion, and the following Resolutions and Address 
were drawn up by him, in conjunction with Wm. Scott, Esq. of that 
City. It may also be added, that the late Titular Bishop of Derry, Dr 
O’Donnell, whose liberality of sentiment was so conspicuous in the cen 
tenary celebration of the Seventh of December, 1788, that he wore an 
orange cross on his breast as he sat in the Corporation seat of the Cathe¬ 
dral during divine service, took a decided part in promoting this mea¬ 
sure, which gave the tone to other counties, and eventually put down 
the “ Catholic Board.” — 

to the 

WORSHIPFUL MAYOR AND SHERIFFS 

OF THE CITY OF LONDONDERRY. 

"WE, the undersigned Freemen and Freeholders of the City and County of 
Londonderry, request you will call a Meeting of the Freemen and Freeholders of 
said* City and Liberties, on as early a day as may sTiit your convenience, to take 
into consideration the present agitated and alarming state of this country ; to en¬ 
quire into the causes what have led to it, and to adopt such measures as may ap¬ 
pear necessary to restore our neighbourhood to that feeling of confidence and se¬ 
curity, for which, until very lately, it had been so distinguished.—Londonderry 
February 2, lb!4. 


John Curry. 
William Scott. 
John Couingham. 
John Dvsart. 

Archibald Boyd, 


| William Knox. j George I?ay. 

j Roger Murray. \ James M‘Crea. 

| (’has. O’Donnell, D. D. \ David It. Curry. 
| William Marshall. I James Greg", 

j Thomas Davenport. \ Samuel Lee, 


John Nicholson. 

David Moore. 

Leonard Horner. 

Arthur llobinson. 
George M*Connell. 

P. B. Maxwell. 

William Mackay. 

John Ferguson. 

Andrew Ferguson. 

John Thompson* 

Andrew Beatty. 

James Davenport. 
Robert M‘ Intire. 
Thomas Lecky. 
Humphry Bubington. 
Joseph Curry. 

William Alexander. 
Robert Oorscaden. 
Alexander M‘Conn. 
John Rea. 

John A. Smyth. 

Carey M‘Clellan. 
William Hamilton Ash. 
W m. Smyth, Lisdillen. 
Robert Maginniss. 

John Alexander, 

James Wilson. 

James Cilmour. 

Richard M‘Ilwaine. 
James Dysart. 


John Gwynn. 
William Cudbert. 
James Thompson. 
John Brigham. 
Ezekiel Graham. 
John M‘Clure. 
James Henderson. 
John B. Hornet. 
John Kel so. 

William Doherty. 
Richard Babington. 
Thomas Shepherd. 
H. Riddall. 

Andrew A. Watt. 
John Munn. 
William Bond. 
James Murray. 
James Ellis. 

T. W. Newburgh. 
William L. Smyth. 
Richard O’Doherty. 
William Dysart. 
Robert George. 
George Smyth. 
Samuel Alexander. 
Timothy Foy. 
William M c Corkell. 
George Foster. 
William Ball. 

M. Stewart. 


W. Camack, 

Samuel King. 

George Brown. 

James M‘Ilrevy, 

John Campbell. 
James Crawford. 
Alexander Brown. 
John Simpson. 

S. Peoples. 

William Campbell. 
Charles Gibson. 

John Campbell. 

H. Nesbitt. 

Andrew Cochran, 
George Cary. 

Henry Brooke. 
Thomas Ramsay. 
William Kerr. 
William Stirling. 
William Huffingfon, 
William Crawford. 
Henry Delap. 

Peter M‘Donagh. 
James Fleming. 

D. Coningham. 
William Gallagher, 
Samuel Boyd. 
George Haslett. 


In compliance with the above Requisition, %ve do hereby appoint a meeting of 
<he Freemen and Freeholders of the City and Liberties of Londonderry, to be 
held in the down-hall, on Tuesday the 8th Inst, at the hour of one o’clock in 
the afternoon. 

M. S. HILL, Mayor. 

Londonderry, Fe- CONOLLY SK1PTON, 7 . 

bruary 2d, 1811. MARCUS M'CAUSLAND, J 

At a meeting of the Freemen and Freeholders of the City and Li¬ 
berties of Londonderry, held in the Town-hall of said city, on Tues¬ 
day the 8th of February, 1814, pursuant to public notice, M. S. Hill, 
Esq. Mayor, Conolly Skipton and Marcus M‘Causland, Esqrs. Sheriffs, 
in the chair. It having been proposed and seconded, that a committee 
of seven be appointed to prepare matter for the consideration of the 
meeting, the following gentlemen were proposed and approved, viz.— 
James Murray, (descendant of the renowned Adam Murray,) Archi¬ 
bald Boyd, Esqrs. Rev. George Hay, M. A. William Scott, M. D. 
William Marshall, John Dysart, and Thomas Davenport. 

The said committee having retired, and on their return submitted 
the following resolutions to the consideration of the meeting, which, 







102 


sfkT having been considered twice, read, and put from the chair, rrefe 
unanimously adopted :— 

Resolved Unanimously. —That we' are Unalterably attached to his Majesty’^ 
sacred Person and Government, and to those principles which placed the Illus¬ 
trious House of Brunswick on the Throne. 

Resolved Unanimously. —That we have lately beheld, with feelings of s?fi¬ 
st re regret, the peace and tranquillity of this hitherto happy neighbourhood dis¬ 
turbed ; the confidence which existed in all classes of the community almost de¬ 
stroyed, and illegal associations, of the most dangerous tendency, spreading ter¬ 
ror and alarm amongst us. 

Resolved Unanimously. —That to the operation and influence of a body of 
men, in Dublin, styling themselves “ The Catholic Board,” we can distinct¬ 
ly ascribe the evils of which we at present complain. That while we deprecate 
any idea of interfering with that priviledge of the subjects of this realm, THE 
Right OE petition, we wish, unequivocally, to mark our disapprobation of that 
Body, as p omoting under this constitutional pretence, purposes destructive of 
our libery and peace. That this Body have assumed to themselves the right 
of taxation on the Roman Catholic community ; that by this means a Fund 
HAS BEEN CREATED, WHICH, IN THIS ClTY, HAS SUPPORTED THE RIOTOUS AND 
seditious, whom a Jury of their countrymen have found guilty. That in our 
city too, by the emissaries of this Body, the deluded populace were taught the 
monstrous and pernicious doctrine, that trial by Jury is a curse. That cha¬ 
racters the most upright, the most distinguished, have been dragged before their 
meetings and marked with their censure; that the verdicts of our Juries hate 
been stamped with their reprobation, and even the sentence of our judgment seat 
has been arraigned and condemned at their tribunal. 

Resolved Unanimously. —That knowing these facts, and feeling, as v/e do, 
the ir baneful consequences in our society, an humble and dutiful Address be 
presented to his Royal Highness, to adopt such measures as may put an end to 
an Assembly, whose proceedings and influence are so destructive to the tranquil¬ 
lity and happiness of our country. 

Resolved .Unanimously.-— That an Address he presented to his Excellency 
Lord Viscount Whitworth, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, expressing our con¬ 
fidence in his Excellency’s administration, and requesting his Excellency may¬ 
be graciously pleased to forward our humble Address to the foot of the throne. 

Resolved Unanimously. —That it is our firm determination to support the 
Magistrates in the execution of the laws of the land, and by -every means/in our 
power to maintain the tranquility of the country. 

It was then proposed and unanimously carried, that tlie thqpks of 
fiie Meeting should he given to their Committee for the pains and abil¬ 
ity with which they had framed the Resolutions and Addresses, which 
so correctly and fully express the sentiments and objects of this Meeting. 

Ordered —That these Resolutions and Addresses be published in the Lon¬ 
donderry and Belfast Newspapers, in the Patriot, Correspondent, and Dublin 
Evening Post, the Caledonian Mercurv, the London Courier and Morning 
Chronicle. M A R C US S. HIL L, Mayor. 

CONNOLLY SKIPTON, 7 
MARCUS M‘CAUSLAND. } Sheriffs, 

The Mayor and Sheriffs having left the chair, and John A. Smyth 
Tisq. having been called thereto, it was unanimously resolved— 

That the Thanks of the Meeting should be given to the Mayor and Sheriffs 
for their prompt compliance with the wishes of tlie Freemen and' Freeholders in 
converting this Meeting, and for proper and dignified conduct in the chair. 

JOHN A. SMYTII. 


163 


TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS 

GEORGE PRINCE OF WALES, 

Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 


WE, the Freemen and Freeholders of the City and Liberties of Lon¬ 
donderry, assembled in the Town-hall of sa : d City, on Tuesday the 8th of Fe¬ 
bruary, 1814, pursuant to public notice, beg leave to approach your Royal High¬ 
ness, and to express our unalterable attachment to his Majesty’s sacred Person 
aad Government. 

Actuated by the same unshaken loyalty, which above a century ago baffled the 
el Forts of a tyrant; which has since hailed, with gratitude and joy, the succession 
of the Illustrious House of Brunswick, we are now impelled, with confidence, 
but with profound respect to address the Throne. 

For years we had lived in tranquillity and peace ; for years enjoyed every bless¬ 
ing vvhich a Constitution, happily established and wisely administered, could in>~ 
p-'rt. For years no political or religious distinctions were felt to have existence 
amongst us. In attachment to the same Monarch, and piety to the same God, 
all minor feelings were forgotten or lost. 

But these days of peaceful security appear, of late, to have passed away. The 
spirit of dissension has breathed upon us, the feelings of confidence and security 
have deserted our neighbourhood, and mischievous and illegal associations are 
spreading terror and alarm amongst us. 

Unreservedly have we stated to your Royal Highness our situation and appre¬ 
hensions, fearlessly shall we now declare to you the cause. 

To a self-constituted Society in Dublin, styling itself ‘‘ The Catholic 
Board,” we beg leave to turn your Royal Highness’s attention, as the proli¬ 
fic source of much evil to our country. Far be it from us to interfere with toe 
right of Petition. We deem it one of the glorious privileges of our Constitution, 
that the meanest subject of our Sovereign can lay liis grievances before Parlia¬ 
ment, or present them to the Throne. 

But this Body, unknown to the Constitution, assuming with Jesuitical humi¬ 
lity, the name of Petitioners, yet exercising the authority of Dictators, possess 
an influence incredible. In the height of their assumption, they have dared to 
exercise the right of taxation ; the pittance of the pool - lias been forced to swell 
their Exchequer, and the hard earnings of indigent industry have been made to 
contribute partly to the aggrandizement of self-elected Demagogues, and partly 
been reserved for purposes WE know not what. (Not so in 182^, when the 
Speaker of the Bored dares to announce, that when the Irish army shall take the 
field, his head, his heart, and ha ml, will be conspicuous in it ///) By this L UNO 
(namely, that arising from the ten-penny levy in the Mass-house,) the stream ol 
justice may be impeded in its course ; actions at law, however unjustifiable, may 
be thus maintained, and oppressed individuals may be obliged to shrink Ironi 
seeking redress, being unable to contend against the coders of “ the Catholic 
Board.” 

Censures the most unqualified, have been passed on characters the most res,- 
pectable; even the sentence of the Judgment-seat has been arraigned and tried 
at their tribunal. 

Knowing these facts and acting under these impressions, we invoke the justice 
we implore the mercy of your Royal Highness to dry up the source from whence 
these mischiefs tlovv ; and that you may take the most prompt and effectual mea¬ 
sures which your Royal Highness’s wisdom may point out, to silence and put 
down a Board, whose existence has sown discord, whose continuance must pro¬ 
duce division and distraction in tins hitherto tranquil country. 


W 



164 


Signed in the name and behalf of the Freemen and Freeholders of the City anil 
Liberties of Londonderry. M. S. HILL, Mayor. 

CONOLLY SKIPTON, ) 
MARCUS M‘CAUSLAND, ) griffs. 

EXTRACT 

From an account of the Celebration of the 1th of December , 1822, 0. S. as Pub¬ 
lished in the Londonderry Journal of that day. 

William Black, Esq. of his Majesty’s 74th regiment, addressed the chair in 
these words:— 

“ I beg leave, Sir, to propose the health of a gentleman, now seated on your 
right hand, whose unwearied and uncompromising advocacy of the Constitution ha# 
endeared his name to every friend of religion and social order in Ireland, I mean 
the Rev. John Graham, of Lifford, the poet and historian of our illustrious 
Ancestors.” » • • • 

The chairman then gave the toast, observing, that his friend near him, had on¬ 
ly anticipated him in Iris intention to propose it at that moment. It was receiv¬ 
ed with acclamations, and drank with three times three.—Tune, Avid lang Syne. 

Mr. Graham returned thanks, nearly in the following words : — 

“ Gentlemen, I cannot find words to express my gratitude for this flattering 
tribute of your regard ; and when I combine it with the approbation of many dis¬ 
tinguished friends of the Church and Crown in other parts of the Empire, it can¬ 
not fail to add to my contempt of the hostility of a licentious Press, which ho¬ 
nours me, in common with all that is venerable in the country, with a portion of 
its illiberal abuse. Here at least do we smile in disdain at the impotent efforts 
of half-educated Ecclesiastics and blundering Demagogues to maintain a church, 
to which the ^spirit of the age age is adverse; men who commit their friends 
at every step they take, whose blows recoil upon themselves, and accelerate the 
ruin of the cause which is cursed and blighted by their advocacy. We have 
only to maintain our strong position in the dignity of that steady and intrepid for¬ 
bearance, which has always characterized the Protestants of Ireland, doing 
good for evil, feeding, clothing, and teaching those whose idleness and 
ignorance, bring poverty, famine, and disease upon themselves, while they are 
plotting the destruction of their benefactors. Our bond of union is an unaltera¬ 
ble attachment to the Religion and Government of the realm. Ours are the 
true principles of the Constitution; they will stand the test of time; like Sir 
Roger De Coverly’s old English coat, they remain unaltered, while the fashion 
of the day comes round to them. Many, who, for years have sacrificed on the 
shrine of a deceitful popularity, are at this moment more alarmed about their 
personal safety than we are. The cool and dispassionate judgment of the Lord 
High Chancellor of England, and of all that is truly great and learned 
in the land is with us; and we can already perceive in the rising generation 
a vivid image of the sentiments and feelings of our ancestors. As for me, I 
am happy to have been in the slightest degree instrumental in the propagation 
of such principles. My heart and soul are with you— 

Where Bramhall rul’d, where great George Walker taught, 

Where King presided, and where Murray fought. 

On classic ground, in station low or high, 

Here would I w ish to live, and love to die; 

Here would I rest, among the wise and brave. 

And find at last near Derry Walls, a grave. 

FINIS 


CORONAT OPUS. 


HISTORICAL POETRY, 

WITH 

BIO G11APIIICAL NOT ES, 


EY THE 


REV. JOHN GRAHAM, M. A. 

AUTHOR OF “ THE ANNALS OF IRELAND,,” “ HISTORY OF THE 
EIEOE OF LONDONDERRY, AND DEFENCE OF ENNISKILLEN,” 

&C. &C. 


Minuentur atrs& cam line cura?,—Hole 


LONDONDERRY: 

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY WILLIAM M‘COKKELL, 

13, DIAMOND, 






DEDICATION. 


TO 

THE DESCENDANTS 

OF THE HEROIC DEFENDERS 

OP 

LONDONDERRY AND ENNISKILLEN 

THIS HUMBLE EFFORT TO PRESERVE THE 
NAMES AND MEMORY OF THEIR 
ILLUSTRIOUS ANCESTORS, 

IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED , 

BY THEIR FAITHFUL AND 

DEVOTED SERVANT, 

JOHN GRAHAM\ 


Lifford , November 5th , 1822. 


PREFACE. 


From the earliest ages of the world, that union of poetry and 
music, called u a Song,” has been the solace of man in his labours , 
and the most innocent amusement of his leisure hours — insomuch , 
that the Bard of Avon, whose intimate knowledge of human nature, 
has been long and universally acknowledged, observes , that 

“ The man who hath not music in himself, 

"Who is not mov’d by concord of sweet sounds, 

Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and wiles— 

And ought not to be trusted.” 

All nations, even the most uncivilized and illiterate, have had their 
Songs. The Persians, Assyrians, Greeks and Romans, had each 
of them a national music adapted to poetical compositions .— The 
Hebrews had their melodies—many of them, particularly the inspir¬ 
ed, effusions of the Royal Psalmist, purely patriotic, and exquisitely 
beautiful. Our own Celtic ancestors were famous for their melodies , 
and genealogical songs, traces of which are yet discernible in the re - 
liques of ancient poetry handed down tons by Scottish, Welsh, and 
Irish Bards. In later times, not to mention the Indian war songs, 
we find the Germans, Italians, Spaniards, French, and Swiss, 
warmly attached to their respective national strains, and it was an 
observation of the greot Lord Chatham, that songs are more ope - 
raatviethan statutes, and that it matters little who are thefabricators 
of the laws of a Country, compared with the writers of its popular 
ballads. 

The Notes annexed to these Songs, cannot fail to prove in¬ 
teresting to the Descendants if all those whose names are recorded 
in them. 

“ Fortes creantur fortibus ac bonis, 

Est in Juvencis, est in equis patrurq 
Yirtus, nec imbellem feroces 
Progenerant aquilce columbam.” 

The Diary, which closes this work, is entirely new und origi¬ 
nal, founded upon English, Irish, and Scottish authorities ; and 
the Author, in the whole course of his researches and compositions, 
may safely assure his readers that he has never lost sight of' the 
old maxim, 

“ EE JUST AND FEAR NOT.” 


Lifford, N#y. 5th, 1822. 



THE 


SIEGE OF LONDONDERRY, 

AN HISTORICAL SONG. 


Air —“ The Boyne Water,” 


a Dignurn laude rintm , 

Musa vetat mor'u * He*, 


I. 

In sixteen hundred and eighty eight, 

On the seventh day of December, 

The men of Derry clos’d their gate. 

And the day we will ever remember; 
While ail around, on rising ground. 

The foe was fast collecting. 

Their pomp and pride, our Sires defied, 
Kind Heaven their cause protecting. 

II. 


Lord Antrim's redshanks led the van. 

In bright arrav of battle, 

But here they dare not leave a man. 

While musquet balls could rattle; 

Tho’ some within, proclaim’d it sin, 

And treason to repel them. 

Our young men brave, their lives to save, 

To fly did soon compel them. 

hi. 

Lord Galway’s horse, with Ramsay's pranc’d, 
Around Ballougry mountain, 

Nugent and Eustace bold advanc’d, 

To Columb Kill’s fair fountain; 

Lord Gormanstown his magazine, 

High o’er them all defended, 

And Lord Clare’s yellow flag was seen, 

O’er a Danish Jt’ort extended. 




6 


IV. 

From Lucan issued Sarsfield’s horse. 

Their drums and trumpets sounding, 

Down Tara-hill came Plunket’s force. 

Their hearts for fame high bounding; 

From Tredagh march’d Lord Dungan’s band. 
All rais’d by royal bounty, 

Tirconnel’s from Fitzgerald’s land, 

And Luttrell’s from King’s County. 

V. 

Young Talbot travelled from Kildare, 

Purcell from Tipperary, 

Waueob and Buchan both were there, 

From the wilds of Inverary ; 

Dublin’s Mayor did there repair, 

Lord Galmoy from the Barrow, 

Roscommon sent Lord Dillon’s heir, 

The Derry walls to harrow. 

VI. 

On steeds by all the army prais’d, 

Came Parker’s troop from Navan, 

O'Reilly with the fo rce lie rais’d, 

From the hills and the vales of Cavan ; 
Clifford’s troops advanc’d from Clare, 

To join the Irish party, 

Cottrell’s dragoons came in for a share, 

Of the glory with great Clancarty. 

VII. 

From Cork’s wide shore MaeCartymore, 

The besieging force augmented, 
Macmahon’s men their standard bore, 

In Clones regimented ; 

Hagans were seen from Glenwood green, 

To great O’Neill related. 

And Gallaghers tail from fair Donegal, 

Were the last of the troops that retreated. 


7 


VIII. 

Bellew left Duleek and liis ancient lrall. 

To see bis monarch righted, 

Fagan of Filtrim with Fingal, 

His cavalry united ; 

’Twas part of the plan that Lord Strahane, 
Should give his neighbours warning, 

But they pack’d him off with a shot and a scoff, 
His hollow counsel scorning. 

IX. 

At the murmuring rill near Pennyburn mill, 

Were Bagwell’s forces posted, 

Fitzgerald’s on the Chapel-hill, 

Of faith and fealty boasted ; 

The batteries of Culmore fort, 

With sod-works were surrounded. 

And loud their culverins’ report, 

O ’er hills and vales resounded. 

X. 

In the Sheriff’s ground near a new rais’d mound, 
Lord Louth took a strong position, 

And with Lord SI ane did there remain, 

Their troops in high condition ; 

Bred on the dow ry banks of Boyne, 

Then unrenown’d in story, 

They here the Irish ranks did join, 

In vain pursuit of glory. 

XI. 

Clancarty’s troops round fair Brookhall, 

A dangerous post demanded, 

O’Neill’s dragoons both stout and tall, 

The other shore commanded ; 

Kilkenny Butler chose the spot, 

From which the Boom extended, 

Across the Foyle where bullets hot, 

That fearful pass defended. 


8 


XII; 

Cavenagh was seen o'er Craggin burn, 

His Wicklow warriors leading, 

Whence few were fated to return, 

Tho’ now in pride parading; 

Ten thousand men round fair Prehen, 

In trenches deep protected, 

On every hill display’d their skill, 

And batteries erected. 

XIII. 

From Trough's green fields M‘Kennas came. 

In number high amounting, 

And from the Bann’s meandring stream, 

Came Bradleys past the counting; 

From Longford far to the field of war, 

O’Farrel’s forces wander'd, 

And did their best in Walker’s nest. 

To plant King James’s standard. 

XIV. 

When Bryan O'Neill of Balnascreen, 

An Alderman was chosen, 

And when Broughshane our Mayor was seen, 

Our hearts with fear were frozen ; 

O’Rourke too was down for an Alderman’s gown* 
O'Sheills and MacConways elated, 

MacAnallies from Tyrone and Con Baccagh’s som. 
On our magistrates bench were seated. 

XV. 

From Caber's old throne in Ennishow’n, 
O’JDogherty ran shouting, 

And on the plain stood brave O’Cane, 

A victory not doubting; 

Lough Erne’s shore with many more, 

Sent forth Maguire boasting, 

Of time’s that were gone—“ old forty-one, v 
.In flowing bumpers toasting. 


9 


XVI. 

What could the maiden City do, 

By all those troops invested ? 

She rais’d her standard of true blue, 

ByF reedom’s foes detested ; 

The goodly sign like bow divine, 

O’er Ulster brightly beaming, 

Brought quickly forth the sons of the north, 
The post of honour claming. 

XVII. 

At Lifford it was Hummel's care, 

That the foe should be obstructed. 

And when at last the Finn thev pass'd, 

H is men he here conducted ; 

But when he was away, before the dawn of day. 
Old Hansard was ill treated, 

For to their shame some cowards came, 

And his statue mutilated. 

XVIII. 

Soon to the town Squire Forward came, 

His bands from Burt preceding, 

And Stewart and Grove to the held of fame, 
Lough Swilly’s heroes leading ; 

On a meadow great, near Ballindrate, 

Brave Rawdon join’d Lord Bianey, 

Their trumpets’ sound was echo’d round, 
From the Foyle to the southern Slaney. 

XIX. 

From Newtownstewart rode Lord Mountjoy, 

In youthful beauty blooming, 

Squire Moore o’er troops from Aughnacloy, 

The high command assuming; 

To aid the town, from warlike Down, 

Hill came and cross’d our ferry, 

Bearing a name that still holds claim, 

On the hearts of the men of Derry. 

J5. 




10 


XX. 

Great Ski\ington from Massareen, 

In this good cause was serving, 

And valiant Cross from Dartan green, 

From Omagh Audley M.ervyn ; 

From Killyleagh George Maxwell gay, 

For gallant deeds was knighted, 

CAiRNESof Knockmany shar’d the glory of the day. 
When James's threats were slighted. 


Glasslongh sent a regiment in armour bright, 

By Caledon’s horsemen aided, 

Johnson commanded and led them to the fight, 
From the ground where they first paraded ; 
Graham's gallant hand did the toe withstand, 

An Alderman wise and steady, 

His purse and his store were open ever more, 

For his townsmen’s service ready. 

XXII. 

Babington was here, and amongst us did appear 
Mitchelburn cover’d with glory, 

Adam Murray rare and valiant Jamie Blair, 

And Barer renown’d in story ; 

Ponsonby brave stood here the town to save, 
Sinclair and Saunderson assisting, 

Horace Kennedy, and Ash, and Vaughan bold 
The besiegers’ troops resisting. [and rash 

XXIII. 

Da w son and Campsie nobly fought. 

With Albert Hall, and Barry,' 

Crookshank and Upton ever sought. 

The foes proud force to parry; 

Gervais Squire led the way in ev’ry bloody fray, 
James Curry for ardour was noted, 

But. Adams of Strabane, at our cannon was the maiij, 
To whom we the laurel voted* 


11 


XXIV. 

Lenox and Lecky to Scotland went, 

For aid, a surrender loathing, 

But ere they went, to the stores they sent 
A large supply of clothing; 

Conyngham and Brooke great trouble took, 

Major Phillips was the town’s protector. 
Captain Godfrey from Coleraine did our noble cause 
As did Jemmet our brave Collector, [sustain, 

XXV. 

Parker join’d us from Coleraine, 

From Garvagh brave George Canning, 

A noble soul without a stain, 

No wily mischief planning; 

And well he might have felt some fright, 

As here in arms he hasted, 

For his father s town had been burn’d down, 

And his fair plantation wasted. 

XXVI. 

Alderman Tomkin's promptly sent. 

To the camp from his castle of Tirkearing, 

A strong and a gallant regiment, 

All our toils and our dangers sharing; 

And on a lucky day they met Murray on the way, 
And chose him their commander, 

On Frenchmen’s heads they sharpen’d their blades, 
With the brave Mount Alexander. 

XXVII. 

From Charlemont came Caulfield’s force, 
Chichester from Dungannon, 

With horse and foot that from Dromore, 

Escap’d the Irish cannon; 

Colhoun from Letterkennv came, 

On angry foes proud frowning, 

From Dawson’s bridge his fair abode, 

Came gallant Adam Downing. 


12 


XXVIII. 

Stevenson & Beatty fromSlievegallen came across, 
Colonel Stuart, with Mulholland of Eden, 
Nisbitt, Cowan, Denniston, with Fleming, Clark and 
And Knox, from Glenfinand Kilkeaden; [ Ross, 
Cummins fir’d the foremost gun, ere the foe began 
James Huston amaz’d each byestander, [to run, 
When fainting op the wall, & with famine like to fall, 
He brought down a proud French commander. 

XXIX. 

Sir Tristram Beresford’s aroy, 

Coleraine some days defended, 

But here at last they found their way, 

And vigour recommended; 

Sir John M agill was ready still, 

Both night and day for action, 

And Cary sought and stoutly fought, 

To crush King James’s faction. 

XXX. 

And last, not least, from Donaghmore, 

George Walker came to guide us, 

To join our cause for evermore, 

Let weal or woe betide us ; 

When press’d with woe—in spirits low. 

We heard his words endearing, 

When he said go—we chas’d the foe, 

His voice our spirits cheering. 

XXXI. 

With hearts like these, what blood could freeze, 
The dangers gather’d round us, 

From morn till night we stood the fight, 

The foe could ne’er confound us} 

No famine pale could aught avail, 

No feelings keen or tender, 

Make us relent or once consent, 

To say the word-— surrender. 


13 


XXXII. 

At last by all our sufT rings mov’d. 
Kind Heaven its aid extended, 

The tyrant s arts abortive prov’d, 

And Derry’s woe was ended ; 

In one dark night the foe took flight, 
Leek Patrick’s old church burning. 
And ere ’twas day—all far away, 
They thought not of returning. 


THE 

SHUTTING OF THE GATES, 

Written for the Celebration of the 1th of December, 1821, (0. S.) 


Air —“Auld Lang Syne.” 


4< Nee magis expressi vultus per ahenea signa 
Quam per vatis opus mores animique virorum 
Clarorum apparent — Hor. 


I. 

Full many a long wild winter’s night, 

And sultry summer’s day, 

Are pass’d and gone since James took flight. 
From Derry w alls aw r ay : 

Cold are the hands that clos’d that gate, 
Against the wily foe, 

But here to time’s remotest date, 

Their spirit still shall glow. 

CHORUS. 

Then here's a health to all good men } 

Now fearless friends arc few, 

Bui when we close our gates again , 

Well then be all true blue . 





14 


II. 

Lord Antrim's men came down yon glen, 
With drums and trumpets gay, 

The ’Prentice boys just heard the noise. 
And then prepar'd for play : 

While some oppos’d the gates they clos’d, 
And joining hand in hand, 

Before the wall resolv’d to fall. 

Or for their freedom stand. 

When honour calls to Derry mails , 

The noble and the brave , 

Oh he that in the battle Jhlls 9 
Must jind a heroes grave. 

III. 

Then came the hot and doubtful fray, 

With many a mortal wound, 

While thousands in wild war’s array. 
Stood marshall’d all around : 

Each hill and plain was strew’d with slain. 
The Foyle ran red with blood, 

But all was vain the town to gain, 

II ere William’s standard stood. 

Then here's to those that meet their Joes , 

As men and heroes should , 

And let the slave steal to his grave , 

Who fears to shed his blood. 

IV. 

The matchless deeds of those who here. 
Defied the tyrant’s frown, 

On history’s bright rolls appear. 
Emblazon'd in renown: 

Here deathless Walker’s faithful word. 
Sent hosts against the foe, 

And gallant Murray’s bloody sword. 

The Gallic chief laid low. 

Then here's to those—heroic dead 9 
Their Glorious Memory, 

May me mho stand here in their stead) 

As mise and valiant be. 


15 


V. 

Oli sure a heart of stone would melt, 

The scenes once here to see, 

And witness all our father's felt, 

To leave their country free: 

They saw the lovelv matron's cheek, 

With want and terror pale. 

They heard their child’s expiring shriek, 

Float on the passing gale. 

Yet here they stood—in fere and blood , 

As battle rag'd around, 
liesolvd to die—till victory , 

Their Purple Standard crown'd. 

VI. 

The sacred rights these heroes gain'd, 

In many a hard fought day, 

Shall thev bv us be still maintain’d. 

Or basely cast away : 

Shall rebels vile rule o'er our Isle, 

And call it all their own, 

Oh surely no, the faithless foe, 

Must bend before the throne. 

Then here's a health to all good men, 

To all good men and true , 

And when we close our Gates again , 

Well then be all true blue. 

TIIE RELIEF, 

Written for the Celebration of that event , on the 1 st of 
August , 1822, ( 0. S.) 

“ Grata supervenit quee non sperabitur hora .”—lion. 

Air —“ My ain kind Dearie 0.” 

-A 

I. 

The gloomy hour of trial’s o’er, 

No longer cannons rattle O, 

The tyrant’s flag is seen no more, 

And James has lost the battle O $ 



16 


And here are we, renown'd and free, 

By maiden walls surrounded O, 

While all the knaves, who'd make us slaves, 
Are batfied and confounded O. 

II. 

The Dartmouth spreads her snow while sail, 
Her purple pendant dying, O, 

'While we the dauntless heroes hail. 

Who sav’d us all from dying, O ; 

Like Noah’s dove, sent from above, 

While foes would starve and grieve us, O, 
Thro’ floods and flame, ail angel came. 

To comfort and relieve us, O. 

III. 

Oh when the vessel struck the boom. 

And pitch’d and reel'd and stranded, O, 
With shouts the foe denounc’d our doom. 
And open gates demanded, O ; 

And shrill and high arose the cry, 

Of anguish, grief, and pity, O, 

While black w ith care, and deep despair, 
We mourn’d our falling city, O. 

IV. 

But Heav’ti her guide, with one broadside. 
The laden bark rebounded, O, 

A fav ring gale, soon fill’d the sail, 

While hills and vales resounded, O ; 

The joy-bells ring—long live our King, 
Adieu to grief and sadness, O, 

To Heav’n we raise, our voice of praise. 

In heartfelt joy and gladness, O, 




A SONG 

FOR THE NORTH-WEST SOCIETY, 

Written for their Annual Meeting, at Londonderry, on Thursday; 

10th October, 1822. 

<c jRura mihi riguique placeant in vallibus amncs, 

Flumina anw sylvasque ingloriusV irg* 

IIow happy is this festive scene, 

Wh ere worth and wealth combining’, 

In patriotic bands are seen, 
x41l common cares resigning : 

With love for all, both great and small. 

Our country’s good devising, 

Each prudent course and rich resource, 

In wisdom calm revising. 

Pursuits like these, must surely please, 

The heart that can feel pleasure, 

When time takes wing, they leave no sting. 

But comfort without measure: 

Each happy day that rolls away. 

While man his brother blesses, 

Produces joy without alloy. 

And this the heart confesses. 

Then here’s to Erin’s lovely fields, 

Her sons and daughters dainty, 

Her matchless soil, that freely yields, 

Of choicest gifts, a plenty : 

For many a year may we meet here, 

To prove we dearly love her, 

May those who roam, come quickly home, 

To cherish and improve her. 

O ! who to swell vain France’s pride, 

That land of friendship hollow, 

Would 1 eave the Foyle’s bright smiling side. 

The fickle crowd to follow ; 

c 


15 


When happy here, we pass the year, 

With laithful friends around us, 

While on each hand, for our own land, 
Heart-cheering views surround us. 

Lough Erne's wave the Foyle shall join, 

And hot! 1 shall meet the Shannon, 

Old Galway’s lakes shall swell the Boyne, 
No more disturb’d by cannon: 

The south’rn Lee shall join Lough Ree, 

The Bann, the Li!lev narrow. 

The Slaney bright, with these unite. 

And mingle with the Barrow. 

Our mountains high, that meet the sky. 

With hidd en treasure teeming, 
r l heir steel and gold shall soon unfold, 

The land from want redeeming: 

The silver mine once more shall shine, 

Our Leitrim coal shall warm us, 

W hile bogs reclaimed, and meadows named, 
With clover green shall charm us. 


Our coasts, producing shoals of fish, 
Neglected long and wasted. 

Once more shall furnish many a dish. 
On foreign tables tasted : 

The stormy main shall prove our gain, 
The Dutchman's fame outstripping. 
Our harbours deep, shall safely keep, 
Ten thousand sail of shipping. 


Oh ! then no more shall want or guilt, 
All comfort from us sever. 

No more shall blood be madly spilt. 
The land shall rest for ever: 

This beauteous isle was form’d to smile, 
Renown’d in future story, 

Our sons shall see that she will be 
“ Broad Europe’s” pride and glory. 


INTRODUCTION 

TO THE NOTES. 

I 


There crmnot be a more appropriate sequel to the foregoing 1 Songs, 
or a better preface to the Notes which are to lie annexed to them, than 
the following speech of Provost Andrews, on presenting a petition 
from this city to the House of Commons, on the 23d of Nov. 1763. 
Sir James Caldwell, of Castlecaldwell, in the County of Ferma¬ 
nagh, took it down from memory, on leaving the House, immediately 
after he heard it, and it is a strong proof of the strength of his recollec¬ 
tive powers, that lie was known not to have taken a single note during 
the delivery of it. It appeared in a work long since out of print, and is 

now drawn from the oblivion into which it had unmerited!v fallen_- 

The preservation of such documents, should be considered as a matter 
of publi hity in every community. Twice or thrice in a century 
they sbcv d be collected and published, not only to provide material# 
for the g jneral historian, but to mark the progressive or retrograde 
state of intelligence and prosperity, and stimulate the rising generations 
to imitate the worth, and avoid the errors of their ancestors. 

With respect to this fine specimen of native eloquence—its strong 
and direct bearing upon the circumstances of the present day, well 
warrant its having a distinguished place in a publication of Historical 
Documents relative to the City of Londonderry. The arguments 
which prevailed over the Legislature of Ireland, sixty years ago, in 
favour of this interesting City, will not he thrown away at a time 
when the very best feelings respecting this Island, prevail in the other 
parts of the Empire, and when very large sums of British capital 
have been devoted to the improvement of districts which possess 
fewer claims upon the gratitude of the public, than the North-West 
of Ulster. 

In 1688, the Nobility and G entry of the North-East division of 
this Province, entered into an association for the preservation of the 
Civil and Religious Liberties of the land they lived in. Under the 
most adverse circumstances it proved successful. In 1821, the high¬ 
er and middle orders in the North-West district, associated for the 
purpose of ameliorating the condition of our people, by the improve¬ 
ment of agriculture and stock, the encouragement of manufacture 
and trade, the right management of our rich fisheries, the discovery of 
mines, and the completion of our inland navigation. It is to he hop¬ 
ed, that the patriots of the present (Ly, in happier times, and under 
more promising auspices than those of any former period, will be at 
least equally successful with their distinguished ancestors, and that 
one of the earliest bequests of the North-West Society of irel^W* 
to posterity will be The Wellesley Canal, between LKS&sdB&l 
a*d Enniskillen. 


20 


The living hero loves the place whose name, 

.Reminds him of an ancient hero’s fame ; 

The Macedonian monarch when a boy, 

Felt his heart bound whene’er he heard of Troy; 

Caesar, who forc’d a wond’ring world to yield, 

Glow’d at the thought of Marathon’s proud field, 

And conquering Hannibal oft wish’d to tread, 

The ground where great Leonidas had bled ; 

So Derry, fam’d till time shall have an end, 

And glorious Enniskillen may depend, v. 

On having still a WELLESLEY for their friend. ) 

“ Mr. Speaker— I have in my hand a Petition signed by tht 
Mayor, Corporation, and principal Inhabitants of the City of Lon¬ 
donderry. It has always been held, Sir, that the rewarding eminent 
merit in particulars, is a general benefit, by stimulating others to 
emulation, and exciting them to the same desert, by hopes of the 
same advantage. I, therefore, flatter myself, that I shall not be 
thought unnecessarily to take up your time, by saying a few words in 
favour of your present Petitioners. 

“ If this nation had been so happy as to have its history written 
by any author of abilities equal to the work, the actions of the citi¬ 
zens of Derry would have furnished its most shining passages—pas¬ 
sages which would have embellished the most illustrious historian, 
and highly honored the most heroic nation. The want of such histo¬ 
rians, is, indeed, the less to be regretted, as we have the most au¬ 
thentic records of such loyalty, magnanimity and public spirit, in that 
ancient Protestant, and unconquered city, as would shake the credit 
of any historian, however eminent, for impartiality and truth, if they 
depended merely upon his testimony, i he records I mean, Sir, ar« 
the Journals of this House, and of the Commons in England; you 
there find the citizens of Den y supporting the laws, the religion, and 
the liberty of their country, in defiance of all the miseries, that the 
cruelty of war, aggravated by the sanguinary rage of bigotry and 
superstition, could bring upon them. To say that they gave their 
lives a ransom for the blessings which their posterity enjoy, is to 
wrong them of half their praise, if we do not consider the manner 
in which it was paid. The pomp of war, and the sound of the trum¬ 
pet, awake in almost every mind a sudden and tumultuous courage, 
which rather overlooks danger than defies it, and rather suspends 
our attention to life, than reconciles us to the loss of it. The soldier 
rushes forward Avith impetuosity, and when he hears the thunder of 
the battle, can glory in the elation of his mind ; hut when death ap- 
proaehes with a slow and silent pace, when he is seen at leisure, and 
contemplated, in all his terrors, the spirits shrink back to the heart, 
the love of fame, and even the hope of Heaven, is chilled within us, 
suid the man at once prevails, not over the hero only, but the JSaint. 

“ Of the few that in this hour of horror have surmounted the sense 
of their own condition, who is he that has looked with the same 


equanimity upon the partners of his fortune and the pledges of bis 
h»ve/ When a wife or a child lifis been a hostage, and the tyrant’s 
dagger has been lifted to their breast, how has the hero and the pa¬ 
triot melted in the husband and the father! 

' £ By what name then shall we distinguish the virtue of the citizens 
o! Derry, who did not rush upon death for their country, in the mo¬ 
mentary ardour of sudden contest, in the pomp and tumult of the 
field of battle, hut waited his deliberate, though irresistible approach, 
shut up within their own walls, in the gloomy recesses of sickness and 
famine ; and who, while they felt the pans?? of hunger undermining life 
in themselves, beheld also its destructive influence in those whose lives 
were, still dearer than their own: who heard the faltering voice of 
Ik Ipless infancy complain, till the sounds at last died upon the tongue; 
ami who saw the languid eye of fainting beauty express what no lan¬ 
guage could utter, till it was closed in death.—In this trial to stand 
firm—in this conflict to he more than conquerors—was it not also to 
be. more than men! To have been the birth-place, or the residence 
of one such hero, would have fired a thousand cities with envy, anti 
have rendered the meanest hamlet illustrious for ever. 

“ What then is Derry, whose whole inhabitants were animated by 
this divine virtue, like a common soul ? Nor is it strange that their 
posterity should be still distinguished by the same spirit ; for, how is 
it possible they should hear the recital of these wonders, and enjoy 
the benefits they procured, without glowing at once with gratitude 
and emulation. Their virtue, from whatever cause, lias been long 
hereditary. In the civil wars of 1641, Deny was the impregnable 
city, which baffled all the force of the rebels, to the encouragement 
and support of the whole North of Ireland. In the glorious Revolu¬ 
tion of 1688, a crisis, perhaps the most important that ever happened 
in any age, or any country, Derry stood forth the bulwark of the 
Laws, Religion, and Liberty of this Nation. To Derry we all owe, in. 
a great measure, ihe ample and peaceable possession of them, in which 
we are happy at this day ; and how Derry behaved during the late 
insurrections, we ueed not he told ; a series of acknowledgments and 
thanks recorded in the Journals of this House, from its first institu¬ 
tion to the present time, are at once the most authentic testimony of 
the distinguished merits of this city, and its most glorious and per¬ 
manent reward. But, though all private encomium may be precluded, 
as an honour to Derry, it may perhaps be indulged as a pleasure to 
me, and, let me add, to those before whom I speak; for I am con¬ 
fident, that among all who hear me, there is not one who would not 
from the same motive, and with the same pleasure, have spoken of 
her citizens as I have done, except where ray language lias been ina¬ 
dequate to my ideas, and there I am confident they would have sup¬ 
plied the defect. 

“ As to the allegation and the prayer of the Petition, though, as I 
observed, it is a general benefit to reward merit; yet, I must do my 
constituents this farther justice to say, that if what they solicit had 


wot, exclusive of this principle, been a national advantage, they would 
not have made it the object of their solicitation : that modesty and 
moderation, which are the inseparable concomitants of merit; and 
that uprightness and generosity of mind, which would disdain to re¬ 
quest the application of any part of the public treasure to a private 
use, would have prevented them. 

“ The trade of the City of Deny, Sir, is within these few years 
greatly encreased, with respect to imports ami exports ; the single 
article of the linen manufacture amounts to no less than £200,000 
per annum. There are, belonging to this port, four-ami-twenty ships, 
from two hundred to three hundred tons burthen, and, I believe, 
there are very few other ports in the kingdom which employ as many; 
but the water is too shallow even at high tide, to float these vessels to 
the quay. The river also is so narrow, as to render the navigation 
verv inconvenient; so that the merchants of Derry are obliged to pay 
eight pence a ton for lighterage of all goods, both in and out, and are 
considerable sufferers by risque, damage, and delay. 

“ To render this part of the river more comm odious, and to deepen 
the channel, will require about £1,600 by the best computation that 
can be made; the sum is comparatively very small, and the advantage 
will be great, not only to Deny, but to the nation in general; for 
every encouragement given to trade, is like an addition of vital 
strength to the heart, which is immediately diffused to the remotest 
parts of the body. I therefore pray that this Petition may he read.” 

The Petition was read accordingly, to the purport as set forth above, 
and it was ordered to be referred to a Committee, upon which aCom- 
•»uttee was appointed accordingly. 


N O T E S. 


Stanza I — “ L:Derry” 

This City is thus ingeniously described in the homely verse of a mu- 
iilated manuscript, said to be found in the Library of a Gentleman at 
Armagh, about CO years ago, and published by Mr. Douglass, with 
Walker’s and M‘Kenzie’s Diaries, ike, in 1794. To this curious 
document, I must once for all make my acknowledgments, not only 
for several lines in the first of the preceding Songs, but for some in- 
formation not to be found in any other accounts of the Siege:— 

** Derry, whose proud and stately walls disdain, 
iiy any foreign en’my to be ta’en. 

Betwixt surrounding hills which it commands, 

On an ascending brow does snugly stand. 

Against those hills the walls rise equally. 

And on strong bastions planted cannon lye. 

The curtains likewise have an equal power 
T* annoy the foes, and the town to secure ; 

A river deep and swift with flowing tide, 

Surrounds the East and South, and guards that side. 

A higher wall and bastions do defend 
The West and North from the foes cruel cud. 

There’s a great Church, from whose high steeple goes 
Thunder and lightning to annoy the foes. 

Near it’s a sally-port, from whence they may i 

Safely spring out to meet the enemy, 

From whose high bulwark sev’ral cannon play. ) 

'Die town’s near oval, with four stately gates ; 

The wholesome air an appetite creates ! 

The Shipquay-gate receives the merchants’ store, 

There ride such ships as sail up from Culmore, 

To whose proud flag all ships must strike their sails* 

If not, the fort to sink them never fails. 

From that to Derry it’s a league and more. 

The swiftest river and the finest shore : 

For near this place the noble salmon play. 

Till the wise fisher makes of them a prey. 

The cunning angler likewise with his fly. 

Entraps the noble salmon as they play : 

Panting for breath he hauls them on the sand. 

And takes the noble booty in his hand. 

Upon its banks some noble buildings stand. 

Fit to divert the Nobles of the land. 

Ships of the greatest burthen safely go 
Above the City to careen, or so. 

Near the South -gate the Ferry-quay doth stan^j 
Where they waft o’er the natives of the laud. 

On t’other side some noble buildings be, 
pit for the end of pride and luxury, 

On each side pleasant gardens to the eye. 

Which do abound with fruit exceedingly. 

Nut Bisliop’s-gate, the wind-sjiili I/S* 


24 


Where cattle feed and criminals do dye. 

This is the ready passsage to Raphoe, 

And Donegal, from whence their traffics flow. 

Upon the North, the Butcher’s-gate doth lye. 

This side some moorish grounds do fortify ; 

But yet it leads to St. Columba’s well, 

To Innishowen, to Burt and Pennyburn-mill. 

Here’s a plain path to Brookhall and Cuhnore, 

A fertile country, and a pleasant shore. 

A Mayor the town, a Dean the Church demands,- 
A Governor the garrison commands. 

In the town’s centre stands the Common-hall 
On stately pillars, the main-guard and all. 

There’s a parade for near ten thousand men 
In the four main-streets and the diamond. 

In this great hall the magistrates do meet 
To take good counsel, and do what’s St. 

Stanza I —Line 3 —“ The men of Derry." 

The Prentice Boys, who shut the gates of Derry, on this memo¬ 
rable occasion, were, Henry Campsie, William Crookshanks, 
Robert Siierrard, Daniel Siierrard, Alexander Irwin, 
James Stewart, Robert Morrison, Alexander Cunningham, 
Samuel Hunt, John Cunningham, Samuel Hunt, James Spike, 
John Cunningham, WTlliam Cairns, Samuel Harvey, and 
some others, whose names have not been recorded. 

Stanza II —Line 1— 11 Lord Antrim's Redshanks.” 

The Earl of Antrim’s regiment is thus designated in a manuscript, 
found at Armagh— 

“ The Earl of Antrim’s redshanks next went on. 

To join the army in battalion, 

The same from Antrim and Dunluce he drew 
Who to the camp in noble courage flew.” 

This regiment was the sixth in King James’s infantry, and having 
a great proportion of it Highlanders, dressed in their own costume, 
obtained the nick-name of Redshanks. The commander of this 
regiment was Alexander McDonnell, third Earl of Antrim, who, 
with the exception of the preceding Earl his brother, was, perhaps, 
the man of all others, most likely to excite suspicion in the minds of 
the Protestants at this time. He had taken part with the Irish Rebels 
in the year 1641, for which he was attainted of treason, hut was 
restored to his estate by the act of explanation, in 1662 : in 1685 ho 
was sworn of the Privy Council of King James II., who gave him the 
command of this regiment, for which he was attainted; but lie wa 
afterwards adjudged to be comprised within the articles of Limerick. 

Stanza III —Line 1— li Lord Galway.” 

I find no mention of Lord Galway in Archbishop King’s list of 
James’s officers, which is generally deemed to be Correct; and in Ne¬ 
ville’s map of Derry, as besieged in 1639. this position is given to 
Lord Galmoy, 


1 L ine 2 — a Ballongry.” 

A mountainous liill near the City, on the river, near the seat of 
Robert Bateson, Esq. There are, several Danish forts and remains of 
entrenchments on and about it; in one of them a piece of gold, which 
appeared 5 to have been the head of a spear or a standard, was lately 
found by a labourer, who sold it for live pounds. 


Line 3- 


Nugent 


James Nugent was Lieutenant-Colonel of Hamilton’s recriment of 
foot, the second in the besieging army. Edward Nugent was Colonel 
in Lord Fitz James’s regiment—and Thomas Nugent, Lieutenant- 
Colonel of the Earl of Tyrone’s infantry: Richard Nugent commanded 
the 8th regiment of foot. Thomas Nugent was afterwards promoted 
from Tyrone’s regiment to succeed Colonel Francis, in a higher com¬ 
mand, for which he Was outlawed on the 11th of May, 1691; hut 
being in Limerick when that City was besieged by King William’s 
forces, and one of the hostages exchanged for the observation of the 
articles of surrender, his outlawry was reversed, and he was restored 
to his honours and estates, to both of which he succeeded in 1714— 
when his elder brother Richard, third Earl of Westmeath, who had 
become one of the order of the Capuchin friars, died in France. The 
Nugents of Coolamber, in the County of Longford, father and son^ 
jbdd commissions in the army employed on this occasion. 


(( In Westmeath Nugent rais’d his regiment, 

Which to the camp in gallant order went .”—Armagh MSS. 

“ Eustace .” 


Sir Maurice Eustace, Colonel of the 19th regiment of foot, son of 
♦Sir Maurice Eustace, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, aud grandson of 
Win. Fitz-John Eustace, of Castlemartin, in the county of Kildare, Esq. 

« Into the camp Sir Maurice Eustace sent, 

From Naas and Kilcullen a regiment .”—Armagh MSS. 

Line 5 —“ Columb Kill's fair fountain” 

Columb Kill was one of the early reformers of the people of this 
Island from heathenism. His name is identified with the history of 
Derry, from having founded a monastery there in the year 545, at a 
time when the purity of the religion professed by the people of Ire¬ 
land d the rich fruits of love to God and love to man, which it 
produced, had obtained for this country throughout Europe, the appel¬ 
lation of the I island of Sains. The Cathedral of Derry is, according to Sir 
Jas. Ware, of much later date than the Monastery, which latter was situ¬ 
ated near where the Cassino now stands, where may be seen the long 
tower belonging to it, of which a print is to be found in the 216th 
page of the memoir of the Rev. George Vaughan Sampson’s map of 
the County of Londonderry. On Columb Kill’s quitting Derry for 
Scotland, he composed the following verses, as translated by Doctor 


D 


2(5 


Coyle, laic Titular Bishop of Raphoo, in his Collectanea Sacra 

“ Mi/ fragrant hank and fruitful trees fan well , 

IVhere pen sine mortals mud with angels dwell , 

Here angels shall enjoy my sacred ee ! '. 

My sloe, my nut, mine apple, and my well." 

This renowned Ecclesiastic w as born at Guilin, in the County of 
Donegal, in the year 521, where may he yet seen the ruins of th« 
chapel, in which he taught the pure principles of Christianity with so 
much success, to the Pagan natives. It is beautifully situated on the 
borders of^a romantic lake. See Archbishop Usher's treatise of tho 
religion of St. Patrick and the ancient Irish. 

In 597 the seat of the see of Derry was translated from Ardstmw 
to Maghera. 

In 783 the abbey and town of Derry were destroyed by an ac¬ 
cidental fire. 

In 812 the Danes were driven from Derry, with incredible slaugh¬ 
ter, by Neil Caine, monarch of Ireland, the royal ancestor of Eurl 
O’Neill. In this memorable exploit, the King of Ulster was aided by 
Alurehad, Prince of Aileagli, the ruins of whose castle are yet visible 
between Derry and Fahan. It was one of the three great royal pa¬ 
laces of this province, famed for its councils and convocations—it w 
noted in the book of Ho win, and in Di. Coyle’s Collectanea, fromtb# 
former of which Mr. Sampson made the following curious extract:— 
4 * Five the greatest towns that were in ancient times in Ireland, thal 
is to say—Ardinagh, Deri Columb Kill, Drumcloo, Kells in Meath, 
and Fovlemore. 

In 1158 the Episcopal seat was removed from Maghera to Derry. 

Line 5—“ Lord Gormanstovon .* 

Jenico Preston, premier Viscount of Ireland—Colonel of the 9th 
regiment of King James’s imuntry. lie was descended from Sir R. 
Do Preston, of Lancashire, who was knighted on the field of battl® 
by I Jonel- Duke of Clarence, in 1365. 

Io ni: 7 — u Lord Clrrrf 


Daniel O’Brien, of (Vrrigaliolt, in he bjvony of Movarta, andt 
crn »»y of Clare. Tl.is nobleman was one of the most able and active 
s •pyorters of Ktmr James II. of whose Privy Council he was sworn 
on !-• 2Ss•» of ivbcnwv, ’u'. He was one of the Lords who sat 


in 




Parliament bold in Dublin the 7tb of May, 1689. He was 
n!-o Lord Lieutenant of the county of Clare, and Colonel of a regii 
nieui of horse which be raised at Carrigaholt, and which, from the 
facing of their uniform, were called the Dragoon buoys —(yellow 
dragoons.) John Macnamara ivas the first Lieutenant-Colonel of this 
regiment, Janus Phillips, the second, and Francis Browne, Major. 

In 1688 Lord Clare’s dragoons were considered the flower of th« 
Irish army; and when they were seut into Ulster this year', th* 


27 


command of thorn was given to Sir J mos Cotter. They arc thuf 
noticed in the Armagh manuscript, sec, 13 :— 

Tlie swift dragoons oaino nc\t unto tbe gvound, 

And plac’d their standards as iliey storage found; 

!YJy Lord O’Bryan his dragoons did raise, 

Upon the banks of Shannon, to whose praise, 

Let future agos their great actions tell. 

For they the Danes from Ireland did expel.” 

On the 26th of July, in this year, Lord Clare’s dragoons were en¬ 
countered near Lisnaskea, in the county of Fermanagh, by Captain 
Armstrong, with two troops of horse and two companies of foot, who, 
making a feint to attack with his horse, retired as if in disorder, till 
he drew the enemy into the ambuscade of his foot, which, by an unex¬ 
pected volley, caused a great slaughter; the horse, at the same time 
facing about, fell on with incredible force, and cut the greater part of 
this brave regiment to pieces, very few escaping by flight, the terror 
and swiftness of which, gave rise to the following irony to this day 
used among tlie Munster Irish, in their legendary dialogues “Coss 9 
coss , a dragoon buoy” (that is—stop, stop, yellow dragoon,) to 
which one dragoon replies—“ not till we come to the bridge of 
Clare”—and another—“ not till we ride to the ford of Moyarta.” 
On the 11 tli of May, 1691, Lord Clare was outlawed; and dying 
soon afterwards, liis son Daniel, the fourth Viscount, went into 
France with the unfortunate Monarch, and died there. The se¬ 
cond sou of tlie third \iscount Clare, married Anne, daughter .of 
Henry lxiekley, Esq. Muster of the H< ns* held to Ling James II., 
and lighting at the battle of Ramilii i s on the 11th of May, 1703 
received nine wounds, whereof he,died, leaving several children, the 
eldest of whom was Colonel of one of the Irish regiments, in the 
Jwench service; bore the title of Lwd Flare, and died on tha 
20tli of May, 1742,. at Prague, in Bohemia. 

Stanza IV— Link 1 — u SarrJ'u'ld” 

Patrick Sarsfiehl, a General in King Jumes’s army, whose military 
skill and address, made King William raise the siege of Limerick, and 
grant the celebrated articles of that City. He was one of the Fix 
persons to whom the unfortunate Prince granted peerages after his ab¬ 
dication. Ilis title was Baron of Lucan, which, with the others, was 
disallowed; but his brother William married Mary, natural daughter 
of Charles 11, and sister of James, Duke of Monmouth, by whom he 
left an only daughter, who married A gmondesham Vesey, Lsq., of 
Lucaft, by whom she had a daughter, Arn e, who, marrying Sir .John 
Bingham, of Castlebar, had issue by him, Charles, first Lari of 
i.urnn. and ancestor of the present Earl, who is collaterally descended 
f •'>i the hero of Limerick. The family had been before ennobled 
under the title of Sarsfiekl and Kilmallock, and ’ ir Dominick Sars- 
m id. Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, w • tlie first Baronet cre¬ 
ated in Ireland—date of his creation, Sept. 29, 1619. 


*f Of all the gallant t/oops that crowded theft, 

None (lid so brave as Sarsfield’s horse appear J 
Tliese lie had rais’d upon the swift LifTy, 

And out ol' Connaught, where his friends they be.’ 5 

Armagh MSS.- — Sec. l2.*~Linc 0, Ac. 
Stanza IV. —Line 3—“ PhinJcett” 

This family had long flourished in Ireland, but suffered heavily for 
its attachment to the Horn an Catholic Religion. 

In 1464, Edward Plunkett, was attainted of high treason, with the 
Earls of Desmond and Kildare. In 164 1 , Plunkett, Earl of Fingal, 
and Lord Killeen, and Plunkett Lord Louth, forfeited their titles 
for having been concerned in the rebellion. Oliver Plunkett, Titular 
Archbishop of Armagh, was hanged at Tyburn, on the 1st of July, 
1681—he was taken down before he was dead, anti according to the 
sentence, his bowels were cut out and burned, his head cut off, and 
bis body quartered. Lodge, in the first volume of his Peerage, rash¬ 
ly asserts, that this unfortunate Prelate had been deeply engaged in a 
popish plot in Ireland, in 1678 and 1679; but Bishop Burnett and 
other Protestant Historians agree in acknowledging his innocence ; and 
Dr. Leland says, that lie was condemned and executed for a plot, 
which he explicitly denied at his death, with the most solemn disa¬ 
vowal of all equivocation, and which, if lie had confessed, no man 
acquainted with the circumstances of Ireland, could have credited his 
dying confession. He defended himself with great ability at his trial, 
and his speech on the scaffold, pressrved in the state trials, vol. iii. 
page 315, is one of the finest and most affecting specimens of elo¬ 
quence in the English language. 

Several of the witnesses against him were Franciscan Friars. Ad¬ 
verting to them, he thus spoke towards the conclusion of his dying 
speech :—91 have endeavoured, by preaching and teaching, and by 
statutes according to my calling, to bring the Clergy of which I had 
care, to a due comportment, according to their calling; yet some 
who would not jufiend, had a prejudice against me, and especially 
my accusers, to whom I endeavoured to do good, I mean the Clergy¬ 
men who swore against me ; but you see how I am requited, and how 
by false oaths they have brought me to this untimely death, which 
wicked act being a defect of persons, ought not to reflect upon the 
order of St. Francis, or upon the Roman Catholic Clergy, it being 
well known that there was a Judas among the twelve Apostles, and a 
wicked man called Nicholas among the seven Deacons; and even as 
one of the said Deacons, to wit, holy Stephen, did pray for those who 
stoned him to death, so do I for those who, with perjuries, spill my 
innocent blood, saying, as he did—‘0 Lord, lay not this sin to them.' 1 ” 
Oliver Plunkett wa^ highly connected in England and Ireland, but all 
did not avail him now; he fell a victim to the angry temper of the 
times, and the profligacy of two or three nefarious priests, whose 
wicked lives he had censured. He was grand nephew of the List Earl 


29 


«f Roscommon, am! great grandson of John, Lord Culpepper, of 
TJiorsway, in England. 

Stanza IV —Line 5. —•“ Tredagh.” —“ Lord Dungan .” 

Tredagh was the old name of Droglieda. My authority hers is 
the Armagh Manuscript, sec. xiii. line 7. 

- “ In County Louth Lord Dungan rais’d his men, 

And from Tredagh, and County Dublin,” 

Lord Dungan, Colonel of James’s 1st regiment of dragoons, was? a 
descendant of John Dungan, Esq. second Remembrancer of the Ex¬ 
chequer in the reign of Henry VIII. Sir Walter Dungan, of Castleton 
Kildronght, Bart, married a daughter of Robert Rochfort, of Kilbride, 
Esq. who brought four archers on horseback to the genera! hosting at 
Tara Hill, in 1593, for the barony of Navan. Sir Walter Dungan, 
of Castletown, in the county of Kildare, in 1633, gave his eldest 
daughter in marriage to Thomas Barnewall, of Robertstown, in the 
county of Meath, who died on the 25th December, 1683. There is 
Bo record of the extinction orforfeiture of this title in Debrett’s Peerage. 

u 

Stanza IV— Line 7.—“ Tirconnel .”— “Fitzgerald's Land." 

T1 ie Duke of Tirconnel was Colonel of the 1st regiment of horsa 
in this army. The celebrated Sheldon was Lieutenant-Colonel of it, 
which is thus noticed in the Armagh MSS.:— 

“ Next those Tirconnel s royal regiment came. 

Who from Maynooth obtain’d a mighty name, 

Tho’ they were of another core of old, 

But in Kildare great Talbot’s praise is told.” 

Stanza IV —Line 8.—“ Luitrell" 

The Luttrells have been long settled in Ireland ; Sir Gregory Lut- 
*re!l obtained a grant from King John, of the castle and estate of 
Luttrellstown, in the county of Dublin. The other proprietors of 
the soil, in this county, at the commencement of the seventeenth 
century, were, according to the rare and curious map of Ortelius, 
Taylor, St. Laurence, Talbot, White, Sarsfield, Allen, Rice, Hussey, 
Rochfort, Dease, Harold, and Wolversion. There were two officers 
of this name at the Siege of Deny, viz.:—Henry, Colonel of the Gtk 
regiment of horse, and Simon, Colonel of the 4th regiment of dra¬ 
goons. Simon was Governor of Dublin, and^ by him was the cele¬ 
brated Proclamation issued on the 18th of June, 1690, forbidding 
more than five Protestants to meet in any place, upon pain of death. 

One of these officers fell under heavy imputations from his own 
party at the Siege of Limerick, where, to this day, a treacherous 
man is called u a Luttrell" 

t( In King and Queen’s County, brave Luttrell rais’d, 

Ilis regiment, which was for valour prais’d.” 

jirmagh JHS& 


20 

Stanza V —Line 1 _ “ Young Talbot travelled'* 

lieutenant-Colonel Talbot, brother of the Earl of iirconnel, taken 
prisoner at the Windmill, on the 6th of May, 1689, 

Stanza V— Line 2.—“ Purcell 

Sir Nicholas Purcell, Col(*icl of the 8th regiment of horse. His 
family is of great antiquity and respectability in the South of Ireland. 
Sir Hugh Purcell, Knight, marrried Beatrix, daughter of Theobald 
Butler, who attended King Henry II. into France, and died in the 
year 1206. James Purcell was titular Baron of Loughmoe, in 1670, 
and grand nephew of Janies, first Duke of Ormond. 

“ In Tipperary Purcell rais’d liis men. 

Who in brave order rode into the plain.” 

Stanza V— Line 3.—“ fVauckob and Buchan.** 

Francis Wauchob was a Scottish gentleman, to whom Tirconnel 
gave a Lieutenant-Colonel s commission in Lord Ireagh’s regimens of 
foot, in which Brien Magennis was first Lieutenant-Colonel. 

James Earl of Buchan was a nobleman, much in favour with 
King Charles II. to whom he was Gentleman of the Bed-chamber. 
He was one of those noblemen who accompanied James into Ireland, 
and who, we are told by Archbishop King, deeply regretted their 
having done so. 

Stanza V— Line 5.—“ Dublin s Mayor ” 

Sir Michael Creagh, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Paymaster-General 
of the Army, and Colonel of the 33d regiment of foot. John Power 
was his Lieutenant Colonel, and Theobald Bon rice, Major. 

“ Sir Michael Creagh did the Boom command, 

To stop all succours from the neighb’ring land. 

The Boom was made of great long oaken beams. 

Together join’d with iron o’er the streams. 

On top of which a mighty cable run. 

Across the lough thro’ staples of iron. 

The Boom on either side was fastened. 

With a cross beam in a rock mortised, 

In breadth the river half a mile and more, 

This floating boom did reach from shore to shore." 

Armagh MSS. sec. J 3 line 74-c. 

Stanza V— Line 6—“ Lord Galmoy.** 

Pierce Butler, Lord Galmoy, gome of whose perfidy and cruelty 
will be detailed in the Diary. Oldmixon said of him, in his me¬ 
moirs of Ireland, that he was an infamon* wretch, whom no titles 
could honour. He commanded the 2d regiment of horse—-Laurence 
Dempsey being his first, and Charles Carrol, his second Lieutenant- 
Colonel, and Robert Arthur, Major. 

Stanza V— Line 7.- —“ Lord Dillons Heir** 

Henry Dillon, Colonel of the 10th regiment of tout; Ida Lieut.- 


31 


Colonel was Walter Bourke ; hla Major, John Morgan. 

“ itosernmnoiTs youths brave Dillon’s regiment made, 

Ul -O H ■ irch’d with noble courage, Sec. «Stc.” Armagh MSS. 

Sir Robert Dillon, of New town, near Trim, was Attomev-General 
to Ring Hcmry VHI. who granted him Ardneeraney and other estates 
.it WestiiK’arb.; on the 18th of February, 1553, Queen Mary ap¬ 
pointed the aforesaid Sir Robert Dillon, second Justice of the Queen’s 
it neh, und one of her Privy Council. Queen Elizabeth continued hint 
in Ms office: on the 9th of January, 1553, she appointed him to he Chief 
Justice of the Common Pk-u>. and on the 2d of May, 1569, in re¬ 
ward of his emincni services, granted him the monastery of Abbey- 
dtrtik 1 , and other lands in the county of Longford. He is the ances- 
). ? of Lord Viscount Dillon’s family, and of the Dillons of Baliy- 
nudvey, Ikdlymabo'i. and Walterstoven. One of his daughters was 
roamed to Sir Thomas Dillon, of Drumrauey. and his eldest son, 
Sir Lucas Dillon, a Privy Counsellor and Chief Baron of the Exche¬ 
quer, was the father of Sir James Dillon, first Earl of Roscommon, 
and the maternal grand-father of the unfortunate Oliver Plunkett 
already mentioned. On the 22d July, 1642, Sir James Dillon, of 
Ballymulvey, in the County of Longford, was expelled from the 
House of Commons, for being concerned in the rebellion of the pre¬ 
ceding year, and his lands, including the castle, town, and estate 
of BaHymahon, became forfeited to the Crown. Lord Dillon’s 
branch of this ancient family escaped forfeiture.—Date of the crea¬ 
tion, 1621. Dillon’s regiment went to France after the surrender of 
Limerick, and formed part of the Irish Brigade. 

Stanza VI— Line 1.-—“ Par Jeer 

John Parker, Colonel of the 7 th regiment of horse. 

“ Next him came valiant Parker with his men, 

On stately geldings, prancing o’er the plain ; 

Those he at Kells and Cavan quickly rais’d, 

Then Tara, County Meath, him greatly praisM.’* 

^Armagh MSS. 

John Parker, Master of the Rolls, was appointed with Sir Tho- 
r*ms Nugent, and others, an Ecclesiastical Commissioner for the 
reformation of Religion, within the county of Westmeath, on the 
23d of May, 1561. 

Stanza VI— Line 3—“ O'Reilly:' 

Edmund Reilly was Colonel of the 42d regiment of foot, and 
Philip Reilly Lieutenant-Colonel of the 28th regiment of foot, com¬ 
manded by Colonel Arthur M‘Mahon. Hugh Magennis was Major 
©f this regiment. The proprietors of land in the county of Cavan, 
in 1599, Were — Hamilton, O’Reilly, O’Currie, O’Brady, Mackier* 
nan, Plunkett, and O’Sheridan. The lattes was the ancestor of th$> 
late Richard Brinsley Sheridan, M* P. 


Stanza VI— Line 5— Clifford”. 

Robert Clifford, Colonel of the 5th regiment of dragoon*. 

“ The County Clare Lord Clifford’s troops advance. 

And to the camp in noble manner prance.” 

Armagh MSS. — see. 13— Line 9. 

In 1596, Sir Comers Clifford, Governor of Connnaght, joined his 
forces to those of O’Connor, Sligo, and O’Maley, and they expelled 
O’Donnell, of Tirconnel, and his predatory forces, from that pro¬ 
vince. 

Stanza VI— Line 8—“ Cottrell” 

“ The last dragoons that came into the plain. 

Were Colonel Cottrell’s, ail brave lusty men.” 

Armagh MSS. 

Stanza VI —Line 8—“ Clancarty 

Donough Earl of Clancarty, Colonel of the 4th regiment of foot. 

“ Near Cork Clancarty rais’d his regiment. 

Who skip’d and danced all the way they went; 

In ancient times their ancestors were kings 
O’er all that country, which his praises rhigs.” 

On King James’s arrival at Kingsale, he was received and enter¬ 
tained by the Earl of Clancarty, whom he made one of the Lords of 
his Bedchamber. This Nobleman’s regiment was, on the same oc¬ 
casion, made a Royal one, and embodied with the Guards. He was 
the descendant and representative of MacCartymore, who had sur¬ 
rendered his estate to Queen Elizabeth, and had it regranted to him 
as a tenure under the Crown. Hooper says — (Hist, of Ireland, p. 
114,) that O’Neill was greatly dissatisfied at the ennobling of Mac 
Carty, and said, that although Queen Elizabeth was his Sovereign 
Lady, that he never made peace with her but at her own desire; that 
•he had made a wise Earl of Mac Cartymore, but that he kept a ser¬ 
vant who was as good a man as he ; that for his own part, he did no* 
regard so mean a title as that of an Earl; that his blood and power 
were better than those of the best, and, therefore, he would give 
place to none of them ; that his ancestors were kings of Ulster, and 
that, as they had won it by the sword, they would keep it by the 
sword. In 1567, Mac Cartymore, being encouraged by O’Neills re¬ 
bellion in the North, despised his new title of Earl of Clancarty, and 
assumed that of King of Munster, and broke into rebellion with 
O’Sullivanmore, Mac Swiney, and others. 

Donough Mac Cartymore, Earl of Clancarty, and Viscount Va- 
lentia, forfeited these titles in 1691. The proprietors of the county 
of Cork, in 1599, were, MacCarty, O’Mahown, O’Sullivan more, 
O’Sullivan bear, O’Donovan, Barry, O’Mahony, O’Driscol, Mac 
Cartyreagli, Ohea, O’Kearny, De Courcy, Galway, Boyle, O’Daily, 
O’Riordjui, PJSfPwly, O^earv. £any ? Waters, Sarsfield, Arch-*" 


33 


deacon, Sraakpole, Skiddy, 

cr'<*, O’Callaghan, O’llely, 
O’Fit Ivey. 


Fitzgerald, Gold, Carew, O’Lyon, 
O Hennessy, Barret, Coppitiger, 


Stanza VII— Line 3 —« Macmahon” 


AT 

x 'A- 


and 


Arthur Mac Mahon, Colonel of King James’s 28th regiment of 
- Hugh Mac Mahon was Colonel of the 46th regiment of foot 
in thi: army—Owen Mac Mahon, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Christo¬ 
pher Plunkett, Major. In 1599, the whole of the county of Mo¬ 
naghan was the property of the Mac Mahons, under the denomina¬ 
tions of Monaghan, Orgial, and Dartry, but among the inquisitions 
preserved in the Rolls Office, many are to be found respecting the 

* T . . 7 * i o 

Mackonnas in that county, between 1624 and 1641. 

Lord Dacre, a descendant of the Nobleman mentioned in King 
Edward VJth’s. Journal, as Lord Warden of the English Marches, 
in 1559, obtained a grant of the Clones division of the Mac Mahons’ 
lands in the county of Monaghan, where, and in the neighbouring’ 
parts of Fermanagh, a strong border colony was settled, consisting 
ut families of the name of Noble, Armstrong, Forster, and Graham, 


Stanza VII— Line 5.- 


Hagans .’ 


“ From Antrim the Macdonnel’s num’rous race, 
From Glenwood the O’Hagans came apace.” 


Tlte proprietors of soil in the County of Londonderry, at the close 
of the sixteenth century, were O’Cahan, O’Connor, O’Donal, O’Neill, 
Hamilton, O Murray, O’Hagan, Hugh O’Hagan was one of the 
Burgesses of the Corporation of Londonderry, according to King 
James’s appointment.. 

v Stanza VII— Line 7. —“ Gallaghers .” 

This was an ancient and numerous sept in Tirconnel or Donegal 
the proprietors of which county, in the early part of Queen Elizabeth's 
reign, were—O’Dogherty, MacSweeny-Fanad, M l Sweeny-na-tua, Mac 
Ward, MacConmey, O’Gallagher, and O’Clery. They were all, of 
course, at this time, on the tip-toe of expectation, to have the acts of 
Settlement and Explanation repealed, by which, and the Act of At¬ 
tainder, which passed in the Parliament held in Dublin, on the 7th 
of May, in this year, they would have been restored to their estates, 
had James been victorious. They would, however, have lost as much 

m 

in liberty, as they could have gained in land; and many of the de¬ 
scendants of those who had forfeited their estates, had even then re¬ 
acquired property under Protestant titles. 

Stanza VIII— Line I.—“ Belletv left Dulee/c 
Waiter, second Lord Bellew ; Colonel of the 12th regiment of foot. 

About Dundalk, Lord Bellew rais'd another, 

And lod them to the camp in gallant order.” 

Armagh MXS*. 


E 


34 


His son Richard, third Lord Bedew, being a Captain ia 
the Earl of Limerick’s dragoons, was outlawed and attainted 
for his service to King James II., but being comprehended 
within the articles of Limerick, and conforming to the true re¬ 
ligion established amongst us, bis outlawry and that of his father, 
were reversed, and he took his seat in the House of Peers, on the 7th 
of July, 1707. His sister was the wife of Denis Kelly, of Aghran, 
in the county of Galway, Esq., who was long a state prisoner in the 
tower of London. This is a very ancient family, of Norman extrac¬ 
tion, and has been settled at Duleek since the reign of King Ed¬ 
ward III. 

W hen the Earl of Tirconnel came into Ireland as Lord Lieutenant, 
being desirous to have more of the Irish advanced to titles of honor 
than formerly had been, he consulted with Lord Bellew, among others, 
what persons in the county of Louth were lit to he created Knights 
or Baronets, when his Lordship named Sir Patrick Bellew, as a per¬ 
son whom he thought proper to he made a Baronet; and intending 
about that time to go to England, Tirconnel wrote by him to the Se¬ 
cretary of State, to make out a warrant for that honour, which bears 
date at Whitehall, 25tli April, 1687. 

Stanza VIII— Line 3 & 5—“ Fagan of Filtrim tv ilk Fiiigal .—» 

Lord Strabane.” 

“ Next unto those, my Lord Strabane did prance, 

Fagan of Filtrim did his horse advance, 

II is Father’s friends had him forsaken all, 

Then for assistance he iled to Fingal.” 

Armagh MSS. 

Richard Fagan, eldest son of'Christopher Fagan, of Filtrim, in the 
county of Dublin, Esq., was brother of Elizabeth, wife of George 
Hamilton, fourth Lord Strabane, brother, and next successor of Jas. 
Hamilton, the third Lord Strabane, whose short, but sad history, 
may not be deemed irrelevant to the purpose of these notes. He was 
seized in fee of the manor of Strabane, the middle proportion of Sheaii, 
and of many other lands in the county of Tyrone, as appears by in¬ 
quisitions preserved in the Record Tower of Dublin Castle: all these 
he forfeited by entering into rebellion against the English at Charle- 
inont, in the county of Armagh, on the 20th of July, 1650, where he 
joined with his unfortunate stepfather, Sir Phelim O’Neill, who then 
held that fort against Sir Charles Coote, Commander-in-Chief of the 
Parliamentary forces in Ulster. On the repulse of the Irish there, 
Lord Strabane tied to the woods and bogs of Munterlony, where lie 
was taken prisoner on the 6th of August, by a party ‘of the Common¬ 
wealth’s army. On the 13th of the same month, he took a protection 
from Sir Charles Coote, which he forfeited on the 30th of December 
ensuing, by joining acrain with Sir Phelim O’Neill, in the island of 
Drumurragh ; and on the 1st of July, 1649, he accepted a commission 
to raise a troop of hoi se in behalf of the Irish* with whom he after- 


35 


wards acted in concert—frequently joined counsels with them, and 
died a Roman Catholic recusant, on the 16th of June, 1655, at 
Ballyfatten, near Strabane. One would think that this unhappy no¬ 
bleman had but little inducement to join with Sir Phelim O’Neill, 
from tiie usage his Lordship’s mother (daughter of George, first Mar¬ 
quis ot Huntley) had received from this ferocious chieftan. This lady 
was the widow of Claud Hamilton, Lord Strabane, who died on the 
14th of J une, 163S, and was buried in the Church of Leckpatrick, in 
the county of Tyrone. On the death of her Lord, she expended 
above a thousand pounds in building the Castle, court-yard and garden 
walls about the cattle of Strabane, premises now occupied by Messrs. 
Graham, Hughes, Brodie, &c. On the breaking out of the rebellion, 
tlie greater part of these buildings were demolished, the furniture of 
the castle destroyed, and the town of Strabane burned to the ground. 
In the same month of that year, tins lady was taken prisoner by Sir 
Phelim O’Neill, who was then paying his addresses to her ladyship, 
very warmly, it must he acknowledged. He carried her away from 
the ruins of Strabane, to bis own house at Kinard, where he kept her 
two or three days, and then sent her to Sir George Hamilton, telling 
licr, that he would never leave off the work he had begun, until mass 
should he sung or said in every Church in Ireland, and that a Protes¬ 
tant should not live in it, he he of what nation he would. Thus dis¬ 
graced and insulted by him, she could do no better than become his 
wife, and was reduced to so indigent and deplorable a condition, that 
in 1656, she was glad to accept of five pounds from the Government 
towards her relief from starvation : liappv had it been for her to have 
been buried in Leckpatrick with her noble husband, eighteen years 
frffore that consummation of her misery. 


Sir William Stewart, of Fort-Stewart, near Ramelton, in the 
county of Donegal, routed Sir Phelim O’Neill near Strabane, when, 
be was going to burn the town of Raphoe ; and again upon the moun¬ 
tains of Barnesrnore, on the 16th of June, 1642, defeated him and 
bis numerous forces, with the slaughter of 500 men, a great num¬ 
ber of the Irish being wounded and taken prisoners on the field. 

_. i 

Claud Hamilton, the fifth Lord Strabane, and fourth Earl of Aber- 
corn, attended King James II. from France into Ireland, where he was 
made a Privy Counsellor on bis arrival in Dublin, and appointed to 
the command of the 5th regiment of horse. He attended the King 
into the North, in order to reduce Londonderry, and when near that 
City, was sent with a party from the army, to persuade the citizens 
to surrender the place, which they utterly refused; and making a 
sally, some time after, his Lordship’s horse was killed under him. and 
he very narrowly escaped, leaving his cloak and furniture behind him. 
See Lodge’s Peerage, vol. iii. page 161—for these and many other 
particulars respecting the noble family of Hamilton. 

The sally port was in the south side of the town-wall and 
from it to the Communion-table in the Cathedral, there was a direct 




so 


passage, (a. covered way leading under the wall to the Chtm Vytird,) 
so that the self-devoted Christian heroes, often rushed out upon the 
enemy, immediately after they received the Iltdv Sarran.ent of the 
Lord’s last Supper. This is one of the ways in which th< ’ daunt¬ 
ed courage and heroic achievements may b accounted for. • the 
defeat at the Boyne, the Earl of Aherco/:< <-• - ni for France, hut 

was hided on his passage: lie was outlawed, and forfeit? ! hi estate 
ami title of Strabane, but the Earldom of Abercurn devolving m his 
brother Charles, the outlawry and attainder were both reversed. 
Richard Hamilton, Brigadier-General in King James’s army, and 
Colonel of a regiment of horse, with the pay of L'537 per annum, 
acted for the King in the North of Ireland, end afterwards fled with 
J im into France, w here he died; and his brother John, a colonel in 
the same army, was killed at the battle of Aughrim. These gentle¬ 
men were younger brothers of Sir George Hamilton, of Lonelong, in 
the county of Tyrone, Knight, and were the sons of Sir George 
Hamilton, a gallant officer, who performed good service in Ireland 
for King Charles I., being a captain of horse, colonel of foot, and 
governor of the town and castle of Nenagh, in the county of Tipperary. 
} I is lady, who was the mother of the officers in King James’s army, 
ivas Mary, third sister of the first Duke of Ormonde, by whom he 
had six sons and three daughters. On the 7th of February, 1631, 
Sir George Hamilton obtained a patent from Government, to hold a 
Thursday market and a yearly fair on the 25th of April, at Clogher, 
and a fair on the 21st of October at Ballymagarrv, now called Bally- 
inagony, in the coupty of Tyrone. On the 23d of July, 1639, he 
had a grant upon the Commission of Grace, of the manor of Strabane ; 
and on the 25th of June, in that year, another patent of the great 
proportion of Donnelong; and in the act of Settlement it w as provided, 
that nothing therein contained should forfeit or vest in the King any 
honours, manors, or estate whatsoever, belonging to him on the 23d 
of October, 1641. 


Stanza IX—Line 2 —“ JBasrnelCs Forces 

c 1 

Dudley Bagnell, or Bagnall, Colonel of the 30th regiment of foot, 
of which Richard James Power was Lieutenant-Colonel. By a literal 
error in the substitution ’of a w for an n in Sampson’s copy of Ne¬ 
ville’s map of the Siege of Londonderry, the honor of this command 
lias been transferred to a distinguished Protestant family, and in the 
same map, Lord Galway occupies the position cf Lord Galmoy. These 
are, how ever, the blunders of a Printer’s devil—such as have rendered 
the beautiful play of the Battle of Aughrim nearly unintelligible; but 
they demonstrate the use of such efforts as this humble one, to pre¬ 
serve the history of our country from confusion and error. 


Stanza IX— Line 3. —“ Fitzgerald's cm the Chapel Hill.” 

Nicholas Fitzgerald, first Lieutenant-Colonel of Lord Bellew’s 
regiment of foot. 


Stanza IX— Line 5.— cc The batteries of Cidmore Forty 

Culmore whs surrendered to King James, by deputies sent to him 
for that- purpose, to Strabane, on the 20th of .April, 1689. In Capt. 
Neville’s map of the Siege, the land side of the fort is represented as 
having been protected by sod works. 

Stanza X— Line 2.—“ Lord LouthT 

Matthew Flunks*. seventh Lord Louth, Colonel of the 21st regi- 
meat of loot. He was outlawed in 1639, and died in that year. 

Stanza X— Line 3.—“ Lord Slum.” 

■ Fleming, Lord Shine, Colonel of the 14th ivgiinpnt of horse, of 
whicli Maurice G'Connel was Lieutenant-Colonel. 


Stanza XI— Line 1. —“ Clancarty .— Brookhall .” 


See the note on Stanza 7, Line 1. Brookhall, 
residence of the Right Honourable Sir G. F. Hill, 


now the delightful 
Baronet, &c. &c. 


Stanza XI— Line 3. — “ O' Neill's dragoons.” 

Sir Neil O’Neill was Colonel of the 2d regiment of dragoons. Gor¬ 
don O'Neill, Colonel of the 31st regiment of foot, and son of Sir 
Phelim O’Neill, was also serving in the Irish army at this Siege. He 
had been an inhabitant of Derry, where his wife Mildred, who was a 
member of the Established Church, died, and was buried on the 19th 
of December, 1686. He was one of the Burgesses which Tirconnel 
had elected for the borough of Strabane, of which there is the follow¬ 
ing angry note in ME Douglas’s list of the Members of that Corpora¬ 
tion in 1689:—“ Gordon O'Neal, son of Sir Phelim O’Neal, the great 
rebel who was hanged: he burned Strabane in 1641.” 


f‘ Gordon O’Neal came next with heart and hand, 

To fight for James against his native land, 

Most of his foot he raised in Tyrone, 

O’Cane his nephew join’d some of his own, 

Gordon O’Neal is that dire traitor’s son, 

Who rais’d the great rebellion in Tyrone.” 

Armagh MSS . 

Stanza XI— Line 5. —“ Kilkenny Butler." 

Edward Butler, Colonel of the 27th regiment of foot, whose sta¬ 
tion at the Boom on the west side of the Foyle, near Charles fort, i* 
marked on Captain Neville’s map of the Siege. 

Capt. Richard Butler, fifth Viscount Mountgarret, an officer in the 
French service, led the forlorn hope against the City of Londonderry, 
on the 4th of July, 1689, when he Avas taken prisoner; he was a 
Captain of horse. On the 28th of October, 1692, this nobleman laid 
claim to his seat in Parliament, and took the oath of Allegiance, but 
being required to take the oath of Supremacy, and make and subscribe 
the declaration according to Act of Parliament, he refused to do so, 
declaring that it Avas not agreeable to las conscience; whereupon the 


35 


i ,or(l Chancellor acquainted him, flat be knew tijeconscquer.cc of his 
refusal was, that lie could not sit in that House; and on the 19th of 
October, in the same year, the Lords came to a resolution, that those 
Lords whose ancestors stood outlawed, should not sit in their House, 
nor their names be continued in the roil, in right of such ancestors; 
and that such Lords as stood outlawed on record, should not hare 
privilege to sit in that House, but should he struck off the roll. This 
order was rigidly enforced, and Lord Mouutgarret was excluded from 
the House of Peers on account of his religion. The next successor, 
who married the daughter of Mr. Buchanrian, of Londonderry, was 
also excluded, but Richard Butler, 7th Viscount Mountgarret, con¬ 
formed to the Established Church, and took his seat in Parliament on 
the 7th October, 1735. Edward, the 9th Viscount, also conformed 
to the Protestant Church, on the 7th of November, 1746, between 
which period avid 1778, multitudes of all ranks and conditions in 
Ireland, forsook the communion of the Church of Rome. 

Stanza XII— Line 1.—“ Cavenagh? 

Charles Cavenagh, Colonel of the 16tli regiment of horse, of which 
James Lacy was Lieutenant-Colonel, and Gro> Pordevacande, Major. 
Neville stations this regiment at the small brook called Craggin.—- 
They were raised in that part of Wicklow, called the Land of the 
Byrnes, Tooles, and Cavenagbs. The other proprietors of that coun¬ 
ty in 1599, were—Walsh, Eustace, Gavan, Cook, Brown, and 

“ Great Cavanagh rais’d a noble regiment. 

With which from Cary to the camp he went” 

Armagh. J fSS* 

Stanza XII— Line 5. — u Fair Prehen ? 

Now the seat of Colonel Knox, on the South side of the Foyle. 

Stanza XIII— Line L—“ Trough? 

A Barony in the county of Monaghan, in which the sept of Mc¬ 
Kenna still exists, and where that family was once very numerous 
and powerful. Among the inquisitions preserved in the Rolls of Of¬ 
fice, are the following :— 

Three inquisitions held for Patrick M‘Kenna, June 10th, 1625, 
in Monaghan. 

For Art M‘Kenna, October 25, 1627. 

For Phelimenes Mac Gilleduff M‘Manus iVPKennn, April 17,1629. 

For Neal Mac Twoll McKenna Buoy, Oct. 2, 1629, &c. &c. &es. 

A strong colony of these Mac Kennas, settled at a very remote 
period, in and about the Braeface, near Maghera, in the county of 
Derry, where their descendants are. now very numerous. 

Stanza XIII— Line 4. —“ Bradleys? 

This was the aborginal sept of the barony of LoughinehoBen, in 



39 


the county of Londonderry; Maghera na Brallaghan, was, on this 
account the name of the principal town in it, when the See of Derry 
was removed from Ardstraw to that place. The cathedral was dedi¬ 
cated to St, Lauroehus, and his festival kept on the 14th February; 
this, with the greater part of the 187 holy days kept by the Irish, in 
the days of Sir W iiliam Petty, Inis been wisely given up ; for, with 
52 Sundays, they would leave only 123 working days in the 
year, a portion of time much too small for agricultural purposes.-— 
The principal well at Maghera, is called Tubber Loury, in honor of 
St. Lauroehus, and at the present day is brewed into the best 
beer to be foimd in the province of Ulster. 

Stanza XIII— Line 5.— u From Fong ford far to thefeld of war, 

O'Farrels forces wander'd .” 

Roger and Robert O’Farrel, Esqrs. were members in King 
James's Parliament, for the county of Longford, where, after escap¬ 
ing by their loyalty in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, all manner of 
forfeiture, they lost their possessions in the tract of fine lands, called 
Anally, for having been concerned in the rebellion and massacre of 
1641 ; they were divided into two great clans, distinguished by their 
complexions, which are still hereditary among their numerous de¬ 
scendants. The O’Farrel Ban, is of a very fair complexion—the 
O Parrel liuoy, nearly as dark in his countenance as a mulatto. Of 
one of these ancient families, was the late Gerald O’Farrel, Esq. As¬ 
sistant Barister for his native county, a gentleman loner known and 
highly respected on the North-West Circuit of Ulster. He once hu¬ 
morously applied to be admitted as a member of that most select and 
highly honourable Society, called The Prentice Boys of Derry, 
which celebrates the Shutting of the Gates of that City, 1388, by 
an annual dinqer in Dublin, on the 7th of December, (O. S.) A 
fundamental rule of the Society is, that every candidate for admis¬ 
sion must prove himself to be a descendant of a defender of 
the Maiden City; this being observed to Mr. O'Parrel, he 
replied, that it was not reasonable to exclude him from the So¬ 
ciety upon tliat disqualification, for his gallant ancestor, though 
not in Derry, on that occasion, was very near it, and had done his 
Lest to gain admission. 

The Rev. Andrew Hamilton, in his narrative of the actions of tb® 
Enniskillen men, relates an instance of the superstitious and cruel, 
conduct of a part of the Irish army before Derry, which he witnessed 
on Thursday, the 25th of April, 1689, in company with Lieutenant- 
Colonel Farrel, and two of the Nugents of Coolamber, in the coun¬ 
ty of Longford:—From the adherence of the Abercorn family tor 
James, the Hamiltons, though many of them were of the opposite 
party, were a kind of privileged persons, with respect to both, and 
tliis tended very much to soften the horrors of this war, and protect 
many Protestant families from utter ruin, Archdeacon Hamilton) 


40 


who had married an heiress of the Cunninghams, of I'lnnor-Curming- 
hain, resided at that time in Mongt velin-castle, (erroneously spelled 
Mount Gravden, in one of the. Diaries of the Siege,) on the Done¬ 
gal side of the river, near St. Johnstown; the unfortunate Monarch 
wa* his guest, for two or three nights, and tradition sap, that he us< <1 
his influence, for tlie most benevolent purposes. Mr. Hamilton, ac¬ 
companied hv Mr. Anthony Dobbin, a. Justice of the Peace, resi¬ 
dent. near Deny, went to the Irish camp near Lallougry, at the hour 
of nine o’clock in the morning of that day, at which time a considers- 
ble party of the men of Derry were skirmishing with some part of 
the Irish. Lieutenant-General Hamilton went with the men to en¬ 
courage them in person, and in the mean time, his name-sake waited 
for him, expecting his return, to give him a pass to return to his 
own house, at Kilskerry, in the county of Fermanagh. Mr. Hamil¬ 
ton and Mr. Dobbin went, as near the place where the fight was, as 
the circumstances they were in would warrant, and coming among 
some of the tents, they met Lieutenant-Colonel Farrel, Lieutenant- 
Colonel Nugent, and his father, Mr. Nugent, of Coolainber, with 
several others, who being 0 f the county of Longford, where Mr. 
Hamilton had an estate, these Gentlemen, who were his old ac¬ 
quaintances, went to him, and civilly offered to do him any sorvie* 
they could in that place. Whilst they were together, they heard se¬ 
veral shots going off within a little way of them, and seeing a sol¬ 
dier coming from the place, Lieutenant-Colonel Farrel enquired of 
him what the reason of it was? The man answered, that there was 
great sport there, for the soldiers had got an English or Scotch witch, 
who had come there to bewitch their horses, and for that purpose had 
been gathering their horse dung; but that the soldiers had fired above 
twenty shots at her, and could not get her killed. Mr. Hamilton 
then entreated these gentlemen to go with him to the place and to 
save the unfortunate woman, until the matter could be investigated. 
They went with him a nd many others, and as they came \\ ithin twen¬ 
ty or thirty yards of the place, they saw a poor old woman, at least 
seventy years of age, sitting with her breast laid bare. One of the 
soldiers immediately came up to her, aud holding the muzzle of his 
musquet to her breast, shot her dead upon the spot. It seems they 
had been bad marksmen, and shooting at her at a distance, none of 
of their former shots were mortal, though she was wounded in se¬ 
veral places. 

The woman was an inhabitant of that neighbourhood, who being 
robbed of all she had by the Irish army, and hearing that the camp 
was full of provisions, having got all the meal of that country, and 
that they were very civil to all people that came among them, she 
came there that morning, to beg a little meal among the tents, and a 
man passing her with a load of it, some of the meal falling upon horse 
dung, the poor starving woman came and was gathering it up. An 
Irish soldier observing her, called out, that there wgs a witch gather- 


41 


ing their luorse dung, to bewitch their horses, that the men of Derry 
might get the better of them upon which the soldiers gathered round 
her, and brought her to that tragical end. So closely connected are 
superstition and cruelty together in all parts and ages of the world. 

Stanza —XIV Line 1 — u Bry an O'Neill of Ballgnascreen, Brough - 

shave , O'Rourkef <fc. 

This was an humide branch of the noble house of O’Neill. It had 
fallen so low, from the consequence of rebellion in a formerreign, that the 
Armagh Poet mentions them in the following disrespectful manner, on 
their being brought into the Corporation of Londonderry, after Tir¬ 
connel had broken its charter :— 

“ In this great hall the City records be, 

’Mongst which of Common Council a decree, 

That no Papist shall dwell within the w alls. 

This statute to the Irish fury falls. 

For Talbot had tlieir ancient charter broke, 

And all the English customs did revoke. 

The learned Rochfort, Recorder of the tow n, 

Opposed the same, to his great renown. 

Yet in spite of reason and the English laws, 

Talbot the charter from the city draws; 

Turn’d out all the English corporation, 

And chose all Popish members of his own. 

Cormick O’Neal of Broughshanes, chosen Mayor, 

For Aldermen some of the following are : 

Bryan O'Neal of Ballvnascreen is chose, 

Whose fathers did the English troops oppose 
In Queen Eliza’s reign, most barbarously, 

And Rore O’Cane, the Lord of Canes’ country. 

The great O’Rourke is made an Alderman, 

Who afterwards a Colonel’s place did gain. 

Then Shane O’Neal, Con Baccagh’s eldest son, V 

Conways and Mac Anallies from Tyrone, C 

And the O’Doughertics from Innisliow’n. y 

For burgesses and freemen they had chose 
Brogue-makers, butchers, raps, and such as those. 

In all the corporation not a man 

Of British parents, except Buchanan.” Armagh 71 f$$. 

There was good reason for Buchanan being put into the Corpora¬ 
tion, or retained in it when it was new-modeled by Tirconnel. This 
man was a confederate with Lundy, and pleaded strongly for the ad¬ 
mission of the Earl of Antrim’s regiment—this circumstance, with 
the spirited replies of Gervais Squire, and Lieutenant Campsie, has 
♦-scaped oblivion, by means of the Armagh Bard, who thus records 
tfiem:—(sec iv.) 

tl At the great hall the Protestants convene, 

And freely speak their minds as may be seen. 

Alderman Tomkins was the first that spoke, 

And thus declaim’d against the Irish yoke:— 

Dear friends—Tirconnel seeks us to enslave, 

And this strong city in his pow r er have. 

JSut if your minds shall all with mine r.gree> 

.F 


42 


We’ll trust to England for our liberty. 

Up starts Buchanan, and thus boldly spoke— 

Take heart good Sir, ne’er fear the Irish yoke. 

Receive Earl of Antrim’s regiment. 

In peace and plenty rest yourself content. 

Alderman Gervais Squire gave this reply— 

Sir, you’re a traitor to our liberty, 

And to the English Crown, from whence we draw 
Our right and title, charter and our law. 

While they debated thus, another came 
With weeping eyes, and thus accosted them— 

Dear friends, a war upon yourselves you’ll bring, 

Talbot’s deputed by a lawful King— 

They that resist his pow’r do God withstand, 

"You’ll draw a potent army to this land, 

Who will these goodly buildings soon deface, 

Ravish your wives and daughters to vour face, 

And all your wealth and substance soon devour— 

Submit yourselves unto the present power. 

’Gainst whom Lieutenant Campsie boldly stood, 

To save the city with his dearest blood, 

And for an answer to the regiment, 

In greatest haste a cannonball be sent. 

But tire Lieutenant was shot in the arm, 

As they the centinel at the store disarm.” Armagh MSS. 


Tills John Buchanan was an Alderman, and the same rank tvas 
held ht Peter Manhy, w ho had been Dean of Derry, but in 1686 
renounced the Protestant Religion. He had solicited the Primate for 
a Bishopric, and being disappointed, resolved to rise by the Popish 
interest—“ Flectere si nequeo superos Acheronta movebo .”— 
He then published an apology, entitled “ The considerations which 
obliged him to embrace the Catholic Religion.” This book, though 


e* 


written without method or connexion, and though every page in it 
shewed that the Author was not acquainted wdth close thinking or 
reasoning, yet was much boasted of by the Popish party, as an extra¬ 
ordinary performance. The Rev. William King, then Chancellor of 
St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and afterwards successively Bishop of Derry 
and Archbishop of Dublin, took Manby’s book to pieces, in a reply 
to it, w hich lie published in London, in w hich lie gave such so 
lid answers to every argument, as w r ere not to he confuted. Walter 
Harris, in his Biography of the Irish Bishops, says—“ It is a trea¬ 
tise tyritten with great spirit and force of reasoning—and at a time 
when Papery was in power, the Protestant Religion in danger, and 
the defenders of it not safe from persecution.”—-The Members of the 
Corporation of Londonderry, according to King James’s appointment, 
were:— 


Cormick O’Neill, Mayor. Horace Kennedy and Edward Brookes, Sheriffs. 
Cnbarngh M‘Guire, Gordort O’Neill, then resident in Derry ; Constantine. 
O'Neill, Constance O’Neill, Tvlaniis O’Donncl, Peter Manby, Peter Dobbin, 
Anthony Dobbin, John Campsie, Dan O’Dougherty, William Hamilton, Ro¬ 
ger O'Cahan, Daniel O’Donml, Nicholas Burnside, Daniel O’Sheill, Roger 
O’ Dougherty, Bryan O’Neill, and John Buchanan, Aldcrinen.—Francis. 
O'Cahan, Robert Butler, Cornelius O’ Callaghan, Thomas Jloncrief, HugJ* 


43 


O’Hagan, John M‘Kinney, Jolm Campsie, Henry Campsie, James Loner, 
John O’Hagan, William Stanley, James Connor, Hugh Eady, John Donough, 
Alexander Gordon, John Crookshanks, Phelim M‘Shaghlin, Jolm O’Lynagh- 
su, Art. O'Hagan, Charles O’Sheill, Johnlius O'Mullan, John Sheridan, 
James Sheridan, Con. O’ltourke, Dominick Buoy M‘Laughlin, John JNu- 
gent, William O’Boy, John O’Boy, William O’Sullivan, Dionysius McLaugh¬ 
lin, Manus O’Cahan, Hugh M'Laughlin, Hugh Mere O’Dogherty, Ulick 
O'Hogurrv, Henry Ash, Thomas Broome, Peter M c Peke, Henry Dougherty, 
Robert Shenan, Cornelius M‘Grah, and Art. O’Hagan, Burgesses. 

THE CORPORATION OE STRABANE consisted of—John O’Neill, 

commonly called Shane Mac Con Baccagh O’Neill, Sovereign or Provost._ 

Gordon O’Neill, son of Sir Phelem O’Neill, John O’Neill, commonly called 
Sane M'Neill, Rammer O’Neill, William Roe Hamilton, James Cuningham, 
Robert Adams, Claud Hamilton, Bryan O’Neill, commonly called M { Bryan 
M‘Cormick M‘Rory Grana O'Neill, John Brown, Robert Gamble, Patrick 
Bellew, James M‘Ghee, Art. O’Neill, commonly called Art. Mac O’Neill, 
Rammer O’Neill, John Donnelly, commonly called Shane Eaddha O’Donnelly, 
James M‘Anally, John M-Rory, commonly called Shane Grom M‘Philip 
M‘Crory, Terence Donelly, called Turlough O’Donnelly, Henry O’Neill, 
commonly called Henry M‘Phelemy Duff M‘Arthur M‘Rory O’Neill, Roger 
Mac Conway, commonly called Roger M‘Bryan M‘Con Modura M‘Conway, 
Dominick MTIugh, commonly called Dominick M‘Rory Ballagh M‘Hugh, 
Charles O’Cahan, commonly called Cormuck Mac Manus Keogh O’Cahan, 
Charles Mac Conway, Cormuck M‘Owen Oge Modura Mac Conway. 

It may be observed of the Corporation of Strabane, as well as that 
of Derry, that there were several Protestants left by Tirconnel in it, 
and among* the latter, Claud, ancestor of the late Claud Hamilton, 
Esq., and Robert Gamble, from whom are descended the present 
Gambles of Strabane. James M‘Ghee, another of this Corporation, 
was a Protestant Gentleman, the proprietor of an estate at Strabane, 
now the property of Conolly Skipton, Esq., in right of his wife, the 
niece and heiress of the late Miss Harold, of that town. He was the 
son of John M‘Ghee, Esq. who died on the 26th of February, I6T1, 
whose tombstone was lately dug* up from the door of the old Church 
of Leckpatrick. 

Having* had occasion in this and another note, to mention many 
members of the ancient and illustrious house of O’Neill, who had 
ruined themselves, and retarded the prosperity of their native soil, 
by an unavailing opposition to the cause of genuine Christianity in 
Ireland, it would be injustice not to notice the happy results of time 
and wise deliberation on that noble house, in common with that of 
O’Bryen, and upwards of twenty other families of the best blood in 
Ireland, who have long since exchanged the Italian Creed for that of 
the Apostles. Of all the representatives of these families, not one 
stands higher in the confidence of the great body of the associated 
Protestants of Ireland, than Earl O’Neill, whose noble father died 
of the wounds lie received in defence of the King and Constitution 
at the Battle of Antrim, on the 17th of June. 1798. By the female 
line, the present Earl O’Neill is descended from Sir Francis Stafford, 
of Portglenone, Knight, Governor of Ulster, from the great Earl of 
Cork, the Duke of Bolton, Lord Chancellor Broderick, and Viscount 


44 


Hillsborough, father of the first Marquis of Dow'nshirc. 

Stanza XV— Line 2. —“ O' Doherty." 

Hie Representative of Sir Caher O’Doherty, of Innishowen, of 
whom the following account is given, on the authority of the son ot 
Capt. Thomas Ash, a distinguished defender of Londonderry, whose 
journal of the Siege was published by his grand-daughter, in 1792:— 

Sir Henry Dowkray, who had a command in which he was very 
active in the service of Queen Elizabeth, having built a fort at Lough 
Foyle, now called Culmore, and began to erect a garrison in Derry, 
took in and subdued Sir Caher O’Dolierty’s estate or territory, called 
Inniskowen, and being a very daring man, met little disturbance until 
the year 1608, when Sir Caher came seemingly with a peaceable dis¬ 
position to Derry. He and the Governor of Derry being walking 
together, some angry words ensued, on which the Governor gave Sir 
Caher a box on the ear : Sir Caher being enraged, went to the coun+ 
try, and assembled those who had been his vassals formerly. He ac¬ 
quainted them of the treatment he had met with. The younger and 
more giddy proposed to march to Derry, destroy the Governor, and 
burn the town ; but the elder class advised Sir Caher to send a large 
fish which they had caught, as a present to the Governor. They 
accordingly sent the fish, with directions rot to deliver it unless the 
Governor was present, and gave the messenger particular instructions 
to observe how the Governor would beha\e. He seeing the present, 
as sent by Sir Caher, said, in a haughty manner, that lie perceived 
“ the Irish were like Spaniels, who, the more they were beaten, the 
more they fawned on their masters.” The messenger related, on his 
return, how the Governor had behaved, on which Sir Caher and those 
whom he had assembled, went directly to Derry, killed the Governor 
and the few Protestants which were with him, and burned the town. 
Upon tins event, notice was sent to Dublin, and Sir Arthur Moyle 
Chichester, Lord Deputy, marched directly to Derry, and with a small 
party of soldiers, pursued Sir Caher so closely, that he took him in 
one of his hiding-places in Innishowen—enclosed him between two 
walls, and starved him to death. Plis fate is represented in part of 
the City Arms, hv a skeleton sitting on a stone, reclining on his arm, 
which is quilted on the hack of a cloak or garb, to be worn by the 
common scavenger. Soon after this, Sir Arthur Moyle Chichester 
represented his service as of so much consequence to King James I., 
that he was gratified with JSir Caber's whole estate in Innishowen. 

So far Captain Ash, who seemed to have been misled by his Irish 
nurse to substitute this legend for the real history of the forfeiture of 
Innishowen, which was, that Sir Caher O’Doherty had been very 
kindly treated by Queen Elizabeth. He and his father, Sir John 
Dogherty, had been knighted, and their property secured to them by 
a new grant; notwithstanding which, the unfortunate knight, in the 
pride of youth, and the fatal prepossessions of an Irish chieftan, de¬ 
termined to bid defiance to the English Government. Sir Henry 


Dowkrav, in the Queen’s reign, was employed to plant a strong Er.g- 
li^li garrison at Lough Foyle, and erect a fort at Culmore. lie af¬ 
terwards assigned the government of the garrison at Derry to Sir 
George rtuulet, and eoniinitted the neighbouring fort to a valiant 
English officer named Hart, the ancestor of the present gallant and 
patriotic General, who is Governor of Culmore. O’Dogherty pretended 
to live in friendship with Governor Hart; but watching his opportunity, 
invited him to ins house, aud there threatened him with immediate 
death, if Culmore was not instantly surrendered. The English officer 
refused to betray hi.’ trust, although a number of ruffians had broken, 
into his chamber, and Held their weapons to his throat. The wives* 
of Hart and O’Dogherty prevented these assassins from putting the 
Governor to death, but the Irish chieftan so wrought on the terrors 
of his female guest, that while her husband was detained a prisoner, 
the unhappy woman consented to attend him to Culmore, and by a 
fictitious tale, to gain admittance into the fort for him and his fol¬ 
lowers. Her own life and that of her husband were spared, but her 
brother and the whole garrison were instantly massacred by the Irish. 
Their chieftan proceeded to attack the town and fort of Derry, which 
were taken with little resistance, and the garrison put to the sword, 
together with the commander Paulet, who was “said to have provoked 
the vengeance of O’Dogherty, by striking him in some occasion of 
dispute. The town was thus abandoned to the rapine of the Irish, 
who, when they had plundered it os’ every thing valuable, burned it 
to the ground, and hastened to attack some other English stations. 
This occurred in the year 1G08. Marshal Wingfield was immedi¬ 
ately afterwards detached with a strong army against O’Dogherty and 
his rebels. At his approach, their garrison set fire to Culmore, and 
retired ; but O’Dogherty still continued the war in the manner of hi* 
countrymen, appearing suddenly, hanassing the enemy, and then re¬ 
tiring. Elated by some advantages, he ventured to issue from hi* 
woods and make head against the Lord Deputy, Sir Arthur Chiches¬ 
ter, who had marched to the assistance of Wingfield ; but an accidental 
shot put an end at once to his life and the insurrection he had raised 
and maintained for five months. His followers dispersed to their se¬ 
veral retreats, and some of them who fell into the hands of their 
pursuers were executed.—See O’Sullivan’s Catholic History of Ire¬ 
land, Cox’s extracts from the Lambeth Manuscripts, and Leland’s 
History of Ireland. 

On the 30th of June, 1609, in reward for the suppression of 
O’Dogherty ’s rebellion, King James I. wrote a letter to Sir Arthur 
Chichester, from Westminster, granting to him and his heirs, and 
assigns, for ever, the entire territory or country of Innishowen, 
otherwise called O’Dogherty’s country, with all the hereditaments 
thereof, possessed either by Sir John O’Dogherty, or his son, the 
late traitor, Caher O’Dogherty, deceased ; except such lands as were 
to be allotted to the Bishop of Derry, and the several incumbent* 
within the same country—and one thousand acres for the City of 


Derry, together with the custody of Culmore Castle, within the said 
country, for life. His patent passed on the 30tb of February, next 
ensuing, by which he was authorized to hold several Manor Courts, 
fairs and markets, in the island of Inch, the territories of Tuogh- 
(Toncine, and Tuogh-Clagh, the manor of Greencastle, the island of 
Malvne, and the town of Boneranocha, in the said country. This 
distinguished officer had also on the 14th of January, 1610, a grant 
«f the castle of Dungannon, and 1320 acres of escheated lands in that 
precincts, with the right of presentation to several benefices in the 
counties of Antrim and Donegal, with a share in the Fisheries of the 
Banu and the Foyle. 

* 

Stanza XV —Line 3.—“ Brave 0 Cane.” 

u Rory O’Cane, the Lord of Cane’s country.” 

Armagh IfSS. 

gi The great O’Canes came from the river Raun.” 

Hid. 

The following account of Tlr Caban, or O'Cahan’s country, is to he 
round in the memoir, of Sampson’s map of the County of London¬ 
derry :—“ On the eastern side of the Foyle, extending to the Bann, 
is the trac t, of country originally denominated Cathan-aght, or the 
territory of O’Cahan—a feudatory branch of the house of O'Neill. 
Tlieir descendants are now called O’Kanes. The chief residence of 
this family was on the beautiful hank of the Roe, now called Deer- 
park ; the scite is well known, and the ruins of the castle were lately 
discernible.” It was situated on the projection of a perpendicular rock, 
hanging over the river, and nearly an hundred feet high. On the 
land side the defence consisted of a mcate; the terrace, orchards, and 
pleasure-ground, may still be traced. 

“ In yonder copse where once the garden smil’d. 

And still where many a garden flow’r grows wild.” 

Respecting the last noted personages of this family, there is a cu¬ 
rious anecdote : the Duchess of Buckingham, being then after her first 
widowhood married to the Earl of Antrim, had raised a thousand men 
in the county of Antrim, in aid of King Charles I. The Deputy, 
Lord Wentworth, had directed her Grace to have those recruits 
inarched by the route of Nn-Limavady. In passing through this vil¬ 
lage, curiosity induced her Grace to visit the wife of O’Cah&n, whose 
castle had been demolished, and himself banished. In the midst of 
this half ruined edifice was kindled a fire of branches and the window 
casements were stuffed with straw, to keep off the rigour of the 
season. Thus lodged the aged wife of O'Cajian; she was found by 
her noble visitant sitting on her bent hams in the smoke, and wrapped 
in a blanket. 

-O’Cahan was implicated in Tyrone’s rebellion, in consequence 

of which he was himself seized and his estates were forefeited. Hie 
King and Council however, wrote to the Lord Deputy, in January, 
1607, to show lenity to him, by shaking the rod oyer him; and I 



47 


find,'by an inquisition preserved in one of the pnblicoffie.es in t)tihlro, 
that Manus O Kane was possessed of some property in the countv of 
Londonderry, in the reign of James 11.; a very respectable branch of 
this ancient stock, settled in the county of Clare with the Macdonnels, 
upwards of a century and a-half ago, and have remained in the west 
of that county ever since. They have long since conformed to the 
Established Church. Ross, Kilkea, and Ballyvoe, were their chief 
residences. 

Stanza XV— Line 6.—“ Maguire ” 

The 43d regiment of foot in King James’s army, was commanded 
by Colonel Cucoimagh Mac Guire; the Lieutenant-Colonel was 
Alexander Maguire, and the Major, Cornelius Maguire. The former 
of these was Governor and High Sheriff of the County of Fermanagh. 
This family had suffered heavily in consequence of the pail; they took 
with Lord Maguire, in the year 1641. On the 18th of November, 
1644, Mac Mahon, the rebel chieftan of Monaghan, was tried at the 
bar of Westminster, and shortly after executed at Tyburn. Lord 
Maguire, (whose trial is to be found in the first volume of the State 
Trials) made such a defence for himself, that his final trial was not 
ended till near the middle of February, 1645. Another chief actor 
in the rebellion escaped the hand of justice, namely, Rory Maguire, 
Governor of the county of Fermanagh, who hanged 17 Protes¬ 
tants in the Church of Clones, on the 23d of October, 1641.—* 
Lord Maguire, with bis fellow conspirator Macmahon, bad been sent 
over to the Parliament of England, and imprisoned in the Tower of 
London; but on the 18th of August, 1644, they, with a thin steel 
instrument, sawed asunder a two inch oak door in the night time, 
and with a line, let themselves down from the White Tower, waded 
the ditch, and got away. They lodged in Drury-lane, %nd on the 
night of the 16th of the next month, hearing a woman crying oysters 
in the street, one of them put bis head out of the window to call her, 
and was that instant recognized by a servant of Sir John Clotworthy’s, 
who had known him, and who immediately gave notice to the Lieu¬ 
tenant of the Tower, who had them apprehended and sent back to 
their old prison. M‘Guire was afterwards hanged, and his title and 
estate forfeited. 

Stanza XVI— Line 1.— “ What could the Maiden City do ?” 

See the Diary for an account of the great exertions of the Prentice 
Boys of Londonderry, Colonel Philips, of Newtownlimavady, David 
Cairnes, of Knockmany, Esq. and the Rev. George Walker, Rector 
of Donaghmore, on this memorable occasion. On the 7th of Dec. 
Colonel Philips arrived in Derry, and resumed the government of that 
City, which he had held in the reign of King Charles I. as a reward 
for his services in 1641. He immediately despatched David Cairnes 
to England, as agent for the City with the new Government—and 
the Rev. George Walker, despairing of being able to maintain the 
town of Dungannon against the enemy; as the gentlemen of Ulster 


\ 


48 


feral resolved to do, raided a regiment of foot, with which he marched 
into the City on the 13th of April, 1689, on the approach of Kinj 
James’s army. 

Stanza XVII —Line 1.—“ Lifford ” 

The shire town of Donegal, eleven miles from Londonderry, and 
one hundred from Dublin, It was anciently called Liffer, and in the 
reign of Queen Elizabeth, Castle Lifter. Edmund Spenser, in his 
view of the state of Ireland, observed, that for the security of Ulster to 
the English, he would place two of the eight thousand men recom¬ 
mended for the defence of that province, at this place. Among the 
copies of inquisitions preserved in the Rolls Office, are the following 
relating to this place, or held in it:—“ Inquisition held at Liffer for 
Queen Elizabeth, 11th December, 1602.” “ For Cahir O'Dogbertie, 

August 13th, in the vi. year of James I., at Lifter.” “Johannes 
O’Dogherty Miles, (father of Caber) October 13th, vi. year James 
I.—and for Ca’ner O'Doghcrty Miles, next day.” “ Inquisition held 
in Derry relative to the ferry at Lifford, April 16th, 1614.” “In¬ 
quisition held for the King at Lifford, March 27th, xviii. James I." 
“Ibid, 16th April, xix. of James I*” “Ibid for Richard Hansard, 
7th October, xxii. James I. held at Lifford.” “ Ibid relative to the 
baronies of the County of Donegal, March 21st, in the i. year of 
Charles I.” “Ibid for the King, January 5th, iv. Charles I.” “Ibid 
for Arthur, Lord Chichester, August 23, 1632.” “ Ibid for Rodol- 

plius Mansfield, 7th April, 1635.” “ Ibid for Basil Brooke, 16th 

April, 1640.” “ Ibid for Humphridius Galbraith and Henry Harte, 

June 21, 1681.” In the Chief Remembrancer’s office, there is an 
Inquisition, held at Lifford, for Brutus Babington, Bishop of Derry, 
on the 4th of November, in the ix. year of the reign of James I., and 
in the office of the Secondary of the Court of Exchequer, is an In¬ 
quisition taken relative to the lands of Hugh Hamil, on the 31st of 
August in the ii. year of the reign of James I. 

On the 31st of January, in the ix. year of the reign of James I. 
this town and the adjoining estate were granted to Sir Richard Han¬ 
sard, Knight. It was then denominated Lifter, Lifford, or Ballyduff. 
The ferry and the fishery were also granted to him, with liberty to 
hold a free market in the town on every Monday in every week for » 
ever, and two annual fairs for ever, viz.—one on every Ascension day 
of our Lord, and another on the feast of St. Matthew. The patent 
is written in the Latin language, but a translation v.'as made of it by 
Henry Harding, of the Auditor General’s Office. 

The Charter of Lifford bears date 27th February, in the x. year of 
James I. The first Warden was Edward Catherall, and the follow¬ 
ing persons were the original Burgesses:—Sir Richard Hansard, 
Knight, William Metcalf, John Ward, James Thompson, Andrew 
Witherspoone, William Reade, Thomas Miles, William Severn?, 
Thomas Perkins, Wm. Warren, Geo. Hilton, and Robert Hansard. 

The Warden was obliged to appear before the Judges at the As¬ 
sizes next, after his appointment; and then take the path of Supre- 


lascy, and also an oath of fidelity in the duties of Ids office. His 
election was annual by the Burgesses, on the feast of the nativity of 
St. John Baptist. 

On the 21st of December, 1620, Sir William I'itzwilliam was 
created by patent, Baron of Lifter, otherwise Lifford, in the County 
of Donegal \ 

April 15th, 1650—Sir Charles Coote being in the Lagan, a tract 
of country on the south side of Lough Swilly, in the County of Do-?, 
negal. Ever Macmahon, the titular Bishop of Clogher, then com¬ 
manding a body of forces, generally called the Victorious Catholic 
Army of the North, crossed the river Finn at Claudv, near Lifford, 
with great dexterity and courage, in pursuit of the Parliamentary army, 
which he but a few days before forced to cross the fords of the Foyle, 
at the islands of Lifford.— (See Cox's Hibernica Anglieana , iu 24.,' 

.June 21st, 1650—The titular Bishop of Clogher, after receiving 
a bloody defeat from Sir Charles Coote and Colonel Venables, at. 
Skirsolas, near Letterkenny, fled with a small remnant of his army 
through Lifford and Strabane, and through Omagh, where Major King, 
afterwards Lord Kingston, took up the pursuit afresh with three troops 
©f horse, and gleaned up what had escaped from the battle ; so that iu 
was generally believed that of all the Irish army, which on that morn¬ 
ing had consisted of four hundred horse and four thousand foot, five 
hundred did not escape. The Bishop himself Avas taken prisoner by 
Major King, and by order of the Lord President, was next day hanged. 
Sir Richard Cox, who has recorded these transactions, observes, the 
vicissitude of the Irish affairs in these troubled times, when the head 
of this Romish Bishop, and those of several of his officers, wore placed, 
noon the walls of Londonderry, where he and they were, within less* 
than a year before, confederated against their lawful King with Sir 
Charles Coote, raised the siege of that City for him, and Avere jo¬ 
vially merry at his table, in the quality of friends. But this is not a 
solitary instance of men cutting a rod to whip themselves. Sir C. 
Coote behaved Avitli unparalleled brutality on this occasion, if credit, 
he due to “ a Journal of the transactions of General Owen O'Neill, 
from the year 1641 to 1650, by Colonel Henry Mac Tuol O’Neill,'* 
published in the Desiderata Curiosa Hibernica. 

About, the latter end of March, 1689, the Rev. George Walker, 
and Mr. Hamilton, of Kilskerry, met in Lifford, where they settled 
upon a token or puss-word, which was afterwards of great use to tht 
defenders of Londonderry and Enniskillen. 

Stanza XVII— Lines 1 & 6 .— u Hansard. — Hammed C 

Sir Richard Hansard, Knight, of Birkerthorpe, in the County of 
Lincoln. After this gentleman had taken a degree in the Uuiversifv 
of Cambridge, he took on him the profession of a soldier. 4 he in¬ 
scription on his monument in Lifford Church says, that “ he had 
divers and sundrie honorable places of command in the warres; that 
to way made Governor of Lifford and the party adjoining’? where he 

Cv 


50 


% 


did many good services in the time of Tyrone’s rehellion, and last ot 
all, -in Sir Caller O'Dogherty’s rebellion/’ It was the mention of 
these.latter circumstances which probably occasioned the insult which 
tradition says was offered to Ids statue, and that of Lady Hansard, on 
the night of the 15th of April, 1689—where Colonel Hammel, Geo. 
Walker, and Colonel Croiton, with their troops, bad, during the 
whole of the preceding night, repulsed King James’s army, which 
attempted to cross the ford. Mackenzie (in bis narrative, page 31,) 
fays, that the stand made on that night was resolute and successful: 
several of the enemy were killed by cannon and small shot. A large 
gun, placed upon the top of the Castle, which stood on the side of 
the river, burst that night, as a white-smith of the town attempted 


to discharge it. 

Hugh Hammel, Esq., the proprietor of Lifford in 1689, raised a 
regiment on his own estate 1 , for the defence of Londonderry. Hi* 
name frequently occurs in the Diary, and lie was the fifth person who 
signed the address to King William and Queen Mary, on the relief 
of the City; those of Walker, Mitchelbum, Crofton, and Lane, beiii£* 
signed before his. 

Colonel Hammel is tbusnoticed in the Armagh Manuscript 


“ Parker brought a regiment from Colerain, 
Colonel Hammil another from Strabane.” 


Sec. 1C. 


Lifford would not do for the rhyme here, which at best is hut a 
lame one—hut perhaps the Colonel had a residence in the neighbour¬ 
ing town of Strabane. It is not, however, likely that lie could have 
raised a regiment in it, without great opposition from the Earl of 
Abercorn, who was strongly attached to King James’s interest. 

Again we find the Armagh Poet noticing Hammel s post at Lifford: 

“ Prom thence to Lifford some good troops they send, 

T’ oppose the Irish, and die ford defend. 

The r.Iuarne. from south, the Pinn from west commence* 

At Lifford they conjoin their confluence; 

Prom thence to Derry in full streams they flow, 

A nd guard the south of Derry from the toe. 

Therefore King James must pass the swollen Pinn# 

If lie the City does expect to win. 

'1'his to efiect he sent some of his horse 
To pass the ford at Lifford with great force. 

The sound of drums and trumpets rent the air. 

And th’ Irish forces to die ford repair. 

They boldly enter in, when lo ! our men 
Pour showers of bullets from the ravelin. 

The Irish drop, and with the purple gore. 

Of dying soldiers stain the waters o’er. 

Prom t’other side tiic en’my fiercely lire, 

And reinforce their troops as need require. 

Till they got footing on the oilier shore, 

And with unequal force our men o’ernow’r. 

Then death appear’d in many a dismal hue, 

Our men "etreat, the enemy pursue.” See. IS A iy. 


Cl 


In the description of tlie battle of Elah, Colonel Hammel is tliui 
jpentionecl:— 

** Parker and Hammel brought fort!) a great gun, 

Strengthen’d by Lieuteuant-Colonel Wigton ; 

Put their assistance came to us too late, 

For Ramsay’s tiring forc’d us to retreat.” 

Lib. Hi. Sec. 9. 

In the second battle on the Windmill-hill, Colonel Ilammel is tliu* 
described as wounded :— 

“ Whilst Colonel Ilammel does the foe pursue. 

Through his cheek a pistol bullet flew.” 

Sec. I k 

With this honourable wound in a conspicuous part of bis face, Col. 
Hammel repaired to the Court of William and Mary, where be was 
honoured by a. Royal present: a tenant and fellow soldier of his, 
named Thompson, accompanied him, and as they passed one day by 
the Palace at Whitehall, the Colonel said to bis companion—“ was 
not James a fool to exchange that abode for Robin Cowan’s hi St* 
Johnston ?" 

Stanza XVIII —Line 1.— u Squire Forward,’ 

* ( From Colemaekletrain, from Hurt, and Innishowen, 

Squire Forward brought horse and foot of his own.” 

Armagh MSS, 


Tills gentleman, with Captain Vaughan, served in King William’s 
army after the relief of Derry, under the command of Colonel Mi- 
ehelburn, whom they accused and brought to trial before the Lord* 
Justices, on various charges, of all which he was honorably acquitted. 
For an account of this, and many other curious matters relative to 
these times, see “an account of the transactions in the North of Ire¬ 
land, anno Domini, 1691, containing a particular account of tlie be- 
«ipging and taking trie town of Sligo by storm, by the Hon. Colonel 
Michel burn e, Governor of Londonderry, some time Governor of the 
town and fort of Sligo, then Commander-in-Chief of their Majesties' 
forces in tlie province of Ulster.”—London, printed in 1692. 

Line 3.—“ Stewart 


W T il!iam Stewart, of Ballylawn, in tlie county of Donegal, Esq. 
ancestor of the Marquis of Londonderry, took an active part in tho 
transactions of the North of Ireland, to prevent tlie subversion of the 
Constitution, which James II. and his Chief Governor Tiicoimel, 
were attempting to effect: he raised a troop of horse at his own ex¬ 
pense, when tin* City of Londonderry was invested, and did especial 
service to the Protestant interest in that part of the country, hv pro¬ 
tecting those who were well affected to King W illiam III. He was 
appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in the regiment commanded by Sir 
\Vm. Stewart, the second Viscount Mountjoy, on the 19th or March, 
1692. His son and heir, Thomas, resided in Ballylawn Castle, and 
married tlie daughter of Michael W ard, Bishop of Derry, who died 
tad was buried in his Cathedra! on the 3d of October, 1681. Alex- 


*.n<W, the second brother of Thomas, succeeded—he represented the 
( 'ity of Londonderry in Parliament) and purchased the estate ot 
Mount Stewart, in the County of Down, from the Colville family* 
On the 80th of June, 17S7, he married his cousin Mary, only daugh¬ 
ter of John. Cowan, of ]Londonderry, E^q. and sister and sole heire s 
of Sir Robert Cowan, Governor of Bombay. His sons were Robert, 
first Marquis of Londonderry, and Alexander Stewart, of Ards, m th# 
County of Donegal, the father and uncle of the present gahant Mar¬ 
quis, whose eminent services in the late arouous contest for tue liber¬ 
ties of Europe, are too fresh in the recollection of the public to re¬ 
quire a recital here. 


“ From Lough Swilly the Stuarts and Cunninghams 
A party brought,” &c. &c. 

Armagh MSS. 

Line 3. — (( Grove.'* 


William Grove, the seventh man who signed the address to King 
William and Queen Mary from the City of Londonderry, on the 29th 
of July, 1689, having been attainted on the 7th of May, in that year, 
l>y James’s pretended Parliament, under the name of Win. Groves, 
Esq. of Donegal or Londonderry. His lamented death some years 
afterwards, is thus recorded in the Manuscript found at Armagh:— 

<( Groves, of Castleshannaghan, forces brought, 

From Kdniakrenan, with tlie enemy fought; 

This valiant man, after the wars was slain, 

When on the pews he’s by the tcries ta’en; 

He’s mueli lamented for his worth and zeal. 

And suffer'd greatly for the common weal.” 

Lib. i. Sec. 17. 


The descendant and representative of this gentleman, is Thomas 
Brooke, Esq. of Castlegrove, in the County of Donegal, who is also 
descended from Thomas Brooke, of Donegal, Esq. son of Sir Henry 
Brooke, who preserved that town and castle during the wars of 164-1, 
and died in August, 1671. Sir Henry was son of Sir Basil Brooke, 
a distinguished undertaker in the planting of Ulster, who died on the 
25th of July, 1633, by his lady, Anne, daughter of Thomas Leices¬ 
ter, of Tuft, in Cheshire, Esq. From the last mentioned Thomas 
Brooke, who died in Dublin, and was buried at St. Michan’s Church 
on the 13th of February, 1695, leaving a numerous issue by his second 
wife, Anne, (laughter of Sir Richard St. George, of Carrickdramruske, 
in the County of Leitrim, Knight, are descended the Brookes of Cole- 
brooke, in the County of Fermanagh. 

Line L —“ Lough Swilly s heroes leading .” 

The inhabitants of the lands surrounding Lough Swilly, like those 
on the banks of Lough Erne, were distinguished for their military 
prowess in the civil wars of 1641. Trained to the use of tire arms, 
from their habit of shooting the wild-fowl of the lakes, they became 
very expert in taking down their wilder opponents, who frequently 


53 


Celt the power of their long inusquets v A renowned regiment of 
sharp-shooters was raised in the Lagan, a tract of country on the 
south side of Lough Swillv, in the barony of Raphoe: they were well 
known by their name of Laganeers, which carried terror to the ears 
of the Irish Rebels. With a body of these men, inheriting all the 
spirit and vigour of their Scottish ancestors, Bishop Lesley, by the 
aid of no less than three regiments raised in this district, protected the 
Protestants of the barony of Raphoe from extermination, in the great 
rebellion. They were, however, at one time so closely pressed at 
home, that they refused to go with the Bishop to relieve Sir Ralph 
Gore, who was besieged by the rebels in his castle of Magherabeg. 
The task devolved on the brave old Scottish Prelate, who sallied 
from the fortified castle at Raphoe, amidst the flames of the whole 
country, and with his tenants and followers, relieved the besieged, 
evincing in the action as much personal valour as regular conduct. 

Line 5. —“ BaUindrate.” 


A small town on the Earl of Erne’s estate, part of it in the town- 
land of Moneen, and part in that of Millsesshagh : Sir Richard Han¬ 
sard built a house near this town, a short time before his death. It is 
thus mentioned in his will, a copy of which is in the Prerogative 
Court:—“ I keep only out of the general donation, the stone house 
lately erected at Monyn, together with two sessocks of land allotted 
and adjoining to the said house, which I bequeath unto John Han¬ 
sard, of Vouslabey, in the County of Lincoln, Gentleman.” i his 
will, however, was disputed by Sir Richard’s brother, and upon tri¬ 
al, it was found to he null and void from the beginning, he having 
had no feofment of the property, to enable him to bequeath it from 
his next heir. 


On the low level grounds between this town and the house of Ca- 
yanacor, a great body of Protestant Noblemen and Gentlemen assem¬ 
bled with their regiments of horse and foot, a short time before Lon¬ 
donderry was invested by James’s army. This circumstance is thus 
recorded in the Armagh Manuscript, Lib. I. Sec. xv.:— 

<< Well did the northern Protestants foresee. 

The dire effects cf lias new tragedy. 

Hew that religion and estates must go. 

If they yield ail up to the common fee; 

, 'A foe that’s seldom merciful and kind. 

To any person of a different mind. 

They muster’d up near thirty thousand men, 

Both horse and foot, in warlike discipline. 

They chose Lundy the general, and aid grace 
The brave Lord Blaney, with the second place. 

Next him Sir Arthur Ilawdon—these they be 
Our northern forces foot and cavalry. 

Upon a spacious plain near BaUindrate, 

In gallant older these brave regiments met. 

The sound of drums and trumpets rent the sky, 

To England’s banner these brave chiefs did fly.” 


4 


On the 20th of April, 1689, King Janies passed tliro’ this town* 
on liis wav from Mongevlin Castle to Strabane, after dining under a 
sycamore tree in the front- of the house of John Keys, Esq. at Cavan-* 
acor, to whom lie gave a proteetien, which afterwards saved this 
gentleman's house, when those of all ihe Protestants round him were 
homed. TI le old oak table, at which the unfortunate monarch sat to 
dinner, and the antiquated china upon which the dinner was served, 
are preserved as curiosities by Mrs. Denny, and her sister, Miss 
Armstrong, of Ballindrate, who are descendants of the King’s host at 
Cavanacor. A labourer at Clonfad, preserves the clmir in which 
James sat in Robin Cowan s bouse, at St. Johnston, where he dined 
©u the 19th of April, in the above-mentioned year. 


Line G.—“ Brave Ratvdon 

“ Sir Arthur ltawdon’s horse rode to the plain. 

In warlike order, ’above a thousand men. 

Some of his men strong polish’d armour boro. 

But he himself a silken armour wore. 

Above a thousand men he thither brought, 

Who at Dromore against the Irish fought.’* Armagh 


Sir Arthur Rawdon, Baronet, of Moyra, in the county of Down* 


ancestor of the Marquis of Hastings. 


This distinguished officer was 


horn October 17th, 1GG2. Being of a tender constitution, he wan 
sent- to I Vance at an early period of his life, and educated first there, 
and afterwards in England, by his uncle, Earl Conway, who took 
great pains with his education, particularly in a department of it too 
much neglected in modern times—to which neglect we may trace not 
only an apathy respecting the true interests of their country, hut 
an incompetency to frame the simplest act of Parliament in so 
great a proportion of our Irish legislators. Sir Arthur Rawdon 
was educated by his noble uncle in an habitual veneration for the 
British Constitution, and in an abhorrence of the arbitrary principle* 
of popery, as being utterly hostile to civil and religious liberty. His 
travels and observations on the continent of Europe, confirmed bin 
attachment, to the establishments of his native land, which he soon 
testified, by his courage and activity against the agressions made on 
them in Ireland, by James II. and Tirconnel, when he spared no ex¬ 
pense or hazard for the support of the Protestant interest. He was 
Captain of a troop of horse in liis father's life time; and after his tie- 
cease, when the Protestants of Ulster were obliged to unite for their 
common safety, against the attacks made upon their liberties and liven, 
lie was appointed to the command of a regiment of dragoons within 
the county of Down, where lie had the greatest interest and influence 
of any person in his country, having represented tliat county in Par¬ 
liament, and for his very extraordinary services in these troubles, 
became so obnoxious to King James’s government, that, he was ex¬ 
empted from mercy by Tirconnel s proclamation of the 7th of March, 
1689, as one of the principal actors in what that Viceroy termed a 


OO 


rebellion, find “ one of those who had advised and fomented the 
*ame, and inveigled others to be involved therein.” The continual 
fatigue he underwent in defence of his country, cast him into a dan¬ 
gerous illness, which forced him afterwards to leave the kingdom, and 
hastened his death, which happened on the 17th of October, 1695, 
on the very day he completed the 33d year of Ins age—so that lie 
was in the very bloom oflife at the defence of Londonderry. He had 
married Helena Graham, daughter and sole heiress of Sir James Gra¬ 
ham, Knight, third and youngest son of Win. Earl of Mentieth, and 
through her the present Marquis of Hastings has a claim to that ancient 
Earklom, which had been for many years extinct. This lady was 
endowed with extraordinary virtues, which well became the ancient 
house from which she sprung. Her good sense and taste were ex¬ 
quisite—her charities numberless ; she was ever found to be a muni¬ 
ficent friend to worth in distress. She was a great heiress—her 
mother being Isabella Bramhall, eldest daughter of Dr. John Bram- 
hall, successively Bishop of Deny, and Archbishop of Armagh, and 
coheiress of her brother, Sir Thomas Bramhall, of Rathmullyan, in 
the county of Meath, by which means, the property accumulated by 
the Bramhalls passed unto the Kawdon family. Part of Archbishop 
Bramhaji’s acquired property in Ireland, was the estate of Omagh, in 
the county of Tyrone, which he purchased for six thousand pounds, 
the sum he had received for his estate in England. He began a 
plantation there, and attended some times to the progress of it, 
when he was inclined to unbend his mind by a species of country 
recreations, which, it is to be hoped, may once more become fashion¬ 
able in Ireland ; but the rebellion breaking out a few years after he 
engaged in this patriotic undertaking, he was frustraied in all his in¬ 
tentions respecting this place, which, after the restoration, became a 
source of trouble to him, for Sir Audley Mervyn laid claim to it, and 
at the time of the hearing the cause in one of the Law Courts in 
Dublin, the Primate was seized with a fit of the palsy, so that he 
sunk down in the Court—was carried out senseless, and so continued 
until he died on the 25th of June, 1663, *111 the 70th year ol his ago. 

LtNE 6.—“ Lord Blaney? 

“ The Baron Blaneya brave reg’ment led, 

Which near Armagh and Black water were bred.” Armagh MSS. 

Henry Vincent, fifth Lord Blaney. He was Captain of a company 
©f foot in 1678. When Lord Tirconnel was new-modelling the ar¬ 
my in Ireland, and preparing to invade the north, the Protestant 
nobility and gentry having associated in the several counties, for their 
mutual protection, those of Armagh and Monaghan chose Lord Bla¬ 
ney to he Commander-in-Chief of their forces, raised for the Protes¬ 
tant service in that province. Soon after his appointment, Lord 
Blaney suddenly took possession of the city of Armagh with a strong 
party, in order to secure that frontier garrison, which he did, by 
disarming the Irish dragoons ; and then posting himself there, he found, 


56 


upon, a ^oneral muster of those who had joined him, eighteen hundred 
men, armed indifferently, hut resolved to perish or overthrow the 
tyranny then exercised over the Protestants of Ireland. He imme¬ 
diately caused King William and Queen Mary to he proclaimed with 
great solemnity, not only in Armagh, hut at Hillsborough and ether 
places, and sent the Proclamation to Charlemont, requiring the Irish 
to surrender themselves and their army by the 10th of April, 1689. 
At this time, near three thousand of the enemy being garrisoned in 
the fort of Charlemont, within live miles of Armagh, and attempting 
to plunder the Protestants, lie had daily skirmishes with them, in 
whicli he constantly prevailed, to their considerable loss, until the 
13th of March, when, being informed that his castle of Monaghan 
was taken by the Irish, and that all the forces of the country had re¬ 
treated to Glaslough, where they were besieged by the enemy, that 
Sir Arthur Rawdon had quitted Loughbrickland, and that the Irish, 
under Lieutenant-General Hamilton, had possessed that place, he 
called a council of war, wherein it was resolved to march the next 
day, to relieve the besieged at Glaslough, and then proceed through 
Dungannon to Antrim, to join their friends there. But Lady Blancy 
and the besieged Protestants in Glaslough, being relieved by Matthew 
Anketell, Esq. a gentleman of undaunted courage, at the expense of 
his life, Lord Blancy continued in Armagh, until Colonel Lundy dis¬ 
appointing liis expectations, by sending him no reinforcements, and 
the enemy surrounding the town, lie was obliged to quit it, and force 
his way to Coleraine, with seven troops of horse and eight companies 
of foot, with which he narrowly escaped from the garrisons of Char¬ 
lemont and Mountjoy, who had notice of his march, and endeavoured 
to intercept him at Ardea bridge, where he killed an hundred and fifty- 
five men on the spot, and forced several others into the river, where 
they were drowned. 

After King James came into Ireland, Lord Blancy was invited by 
him to join his service, with a promise of pardon for what was passed, 
and of the Royal favour for the time to come—to which he replied, 
“that he thanked God he had now a King upon whose word he could 
depend, hut. never would on his , without a sword in his hand.” This 
nobleman died a short time after the relief of Londonderry, and w as 
buried at Monaghan. 

Stanza XIX —Line 1.—“ From Ne’wtoxvnstexvart rode Lord 

Mountjoy .” 

■ “ Young Lord Mountjoy’s dragoons 

Advanced next, rais’d in his father’s towns : 

For nc ,r to Newtownstewart in Tyrone, 

The neighbouring gentlemen are all his own.’* 

Armagh MSS. 

This was Sir William Stewart, the second Viscount Mountjoy, 
who joined the defenders of Londonderry in the absence of his nobla 
father, who was deluded by Tirconnel, and sent off to Franco, whorp 



57 


he was laid up in the Bastile, to prevent his return to the Protestant* 
of Ireland, who had the greatest, confidence in his services, which will 
he more particularly noticed in the Diary. 

This noble family, together with that of Sir James Stewart, of 
Fortstewart, near Ramelton, which is one and the same with it, and 
in far t the only male branch of it, is descended from the blood Roval 
of Scotland; their direct ancestor being King Robert Stewart, who 
was crowned at Scoon, on the 25th of March, 13/0, in right of his 
maternal grandfather, King Robert Bruce. The first of this ancient 
family who settled in Ireland, were Sir William Stewart, of Augh- 
entean and Newtownstewart, in the county of Tyrone, and his bro¬ 
ther, S»r Robert Stewart, of Culmore, near Londonderry. They 
were both very active and able officers, and had served many years 
in foreign wars, under Count Mansfield, the Kings of Denmark and 
Sweden, and had gradually raised themselves to the command of 
regiments. Sir Robert, the younger, was a gentleman of the Privy 
Chamber to King James I. in whose reign he came into Ireland, and 
as a recompence for his faithful services, had a grant on the 24 th of 
July, 1617, of an hundred pounds a-year of Crown lands, in the 
counties of Leitrim, Cavan, and Fermanagh, with liberty to raise 
and transport four hundred volunteers, for the service of the King of 
Sweden. On the 11th of August, 1638, he was appointed Captain 
of Culmore Castle. In the year 1639, he was returned Member of 
Parliament for the City of Londonderry; and on the 16th of Nov. 
1641, after the commencement of the massacre of the Protestants, 
he had a commission to raise and command a thousand foot soldiers, 
and a troop of horse, for his Majesty’s service. In 1643, he was 
made Governor of Londonderry and Culmore Fort, on the deatli of 
Sir James Vaughan ; and on Tuesday the 19th of June, in that year, 
totally routed the Irish, under Owen Roe O’Neill, at Clones, on th<* 
borders of Fermanagh : after which he took the castle i f 1 >e..go, and 
on the 2d of January, 1644, met all the Colonels u icier the command 
of the Marquis of Ormonde, and agreed with them noc to swear or 
subscribe to the “league and covenant" then imposed upon the an, y 
bv the Parliament, in which resolution his brother, sire William, thong U 
then absent,, did afterwards join. In the m* i f a cf October, 1648, 
being in garrison at Culmore, which commanded the passage by water 
to Londonderry, he was trepanned into a visit and bautining of a 
friend’s child in this City; and Colonel Audley Mervy\, being then 
also insidiously taken, they were both, by Colonel Monck’s order*, 
tent prisoners by sea to London. Monck, in the mean time, got 
possession of the Fort of Culmore by stratagem, and when the Par¬ 
liament prevailed, and passed their act for the settlement of Ireland, 
cm the 12th of August, 1652, Sir Robert Stewart was excepted from 
pardon, for life and estate. However, surviving these confusions, he 
was made Captain of a foot company, on the 6th of February, 1660, 
and on the 12th of the same month. Governor of the City and County 

II 




«f Lendcntlr.y. TI.? ]< fi issue. Lieutenant-Colonel Gefirge Stewart, 

of Culmovo, whose posterity still exist. The family burial-place of 
the ancient an.! highly respectable family of Stewart, of Horn Head, 
in the county of Donegal, is in the Cathedral Church-yard of Lon¬ 
donderry. 

Sir William, the elder brother of the above-mentioned Sir Robert 
Stewart, from whom the present Earl of Blessington is descended, by 
the female line, was in favour with King James L, and became an un¬ 
dertaker for the plantation of escheated lands in l lister. He contributed 
greatly to quash O'Doherty’s rebellion, much more so than others of his 
rank, for which services he was knighted, and had a grant of a con¬ 
siderable tract of lands in the county of Donegal. He passed patent 
on the 30th of November, 1610, for a thousand acres of land in the 
barony of Kilmacrenan, in that county: and the King having received 
such an account of his industry and forwardness in that plantation, 
that he recommended him earnestly on the 26th of January, 1612, to 
the Lord Deputy Chichester, to be admitted an undertaker in the plan¬ 
tation of Wexford. He had also afgrant of a proportion which was 
surrendered bv James Laves, in the barony of Strahane, consisting 
of fifteen hundred acres. His Donegal grant consisted of the town- 
lands and quarters of Gortavaghie, Ilmmore, Ilmbegg, Ardromon, 
her. with free fishing in the river of Loughswiily. Those lands were 
erected into a manor, called Stewart’s Fort, afterwards denominated 
Fortstewart, upon which, in-the year 1618, he had built a fair strong 
castle, called Ramelton, three stories and a-half high, and had made 
a town, consisting of forty-five houses, in which were fifty-seven 
families, all British. It. was then, ns it continues to he, a respectable 
market town, and stood well for the King’s service and the good of 
the country. He had then almost finished a Church in the town, besides 
building a good stone house at Gortavaghie. The Church has been 
lately rebuilt, and for beauty of situation, and the advantages of a 
vic inity to a prolific sea, Ramelton may challenge a competition with 
any other town in Ireland, 1 lie salmon taken there arc remarkably 
fine, and in season at a time of the year in which no others are fit 
to he eaten. 

In tlie Parliament which assembled in Dublin, on the 18th of May, 
1613, and was dissolved on the 14th of October, 1615, Sir William 
Stewart, of Ramelton, represented the county of Donegal. In 1616, 
he was Captain of fifty foot soldiers, the same number with that of 
Sir Richard Hansard, at Lifford; and by Privy Seal, hearing date 
at Westminster, April 10th, 1623, and hv patent 2d of May, he wa* 
created a Baronet. The Baronetcy lias descended to Sir James Stew¬ 
art, of Fortstttwart, the late worthy representative in Parliament of the 
County of Donegal, to the original reduction and plantation of which, 
his gallant ancestor had .contributed in so high a degree. The Tyrone 
grants to Sir William Stewart, are detailed at large in Lodge’s peer¬ 
age, vol. ii. page 199, in which nearly all the foregoing particulars 
may be found, together with the following account of tins great man’s 


59 


services to the Protestant interest, when at its lowest ebb, in I Gil 
v,ud 1642. He was member of the Privy Council, both to King 
James and King Charles L, and after the rebellion broke out, and was 
raging through the province of Ulster, lu* received a commission, dated 
the 16th ot November, 164-1, under the King’s signet, for raising a 
thousand foot and a troop of horse. As soon as lie had raised his 
regiment, with the aid of his brother, he relieved Captain Mervyn, 
who was besieged in the Castle of Augher, in which they left a gar¬ 
rison—routed, as already mentioned in another note, Sir Phelim 
O Neill, near Strahane, on his way to burn the town of Raphoe; and 
on the 16th of June, 164-2, at the gap of Rarnesmore, defeat ed this fero¬ 
cious rebel and his numerous forces, which he had raised out of six coun¬ 
ties, with the slaughter of five hundred of the Irish, a much greater num¬ 
ber being wounded. His losses by this rebellion w ere very great, hav¬ 
ing, as he deposed upon oath, on the 12th of October, 1643, three 
of his chief houses, one new built Church, two market towns, and 
several villages, totally burned and destroyed by the rebels, being also 
deprived of the possession, rents, and profits of his lands, worth even 
at that time two thousand pounds a-year. He was plundered of 
eight hundred sheen, sixty cows, forty horses and mares, with corn, 
goods and chattels, of great value. His Briti h tenants were reduced 
to absolute poverty, being robbed of most of then- goods and means, 
to his further extreme loss. His deposition, which was taken by the 
Parliamentary Commissioners, a! so sets forth, that some of his regiment 
having apprehended one Culler;an, titular Bishop of Raphoe, a id 
brought, him before him, he asked him why it was reported among 
the Irish rebels, that King Charles had given them a commission for 
what they had done, observing to the said Cullenan, that he wondered 
they could he so impudent and shameless, as to propagate such a mani¬ 
fest and wicked falsehood. To which he answered, “ that all the bet¬ 
ter sort of the Irish knew well enough that his M.jesty had given, 
them no commission at alihut he confessed and said, “t-hatom* 
Plunket had forged and counterfeited such a com; -issmn, and pre¬ 
tended it was the King’s; and that the common s r-• knew nothing 
but that it was really the King’s commission, am 1 that induced and 
led them to the forward actions and cruelties which th-y had com¬ 
mitted.'’ 


Stanza XIX— Line 5 _ Hill came and cross'd our Jerry.” 

i( From Hillsborough Squire Hill a regiment sent. 

Which to the camp in gallant order went.” Armagh MSS. 

This was Michael Hill, of Hillsborough, Esq. eldest son ot Wil¬ 
liam Hill, Esq. by Eleanor, daughter of Doctor Michael Boyle, 
Archbishop of Armagh, and Lord Chancellor of Ireland. The for¬ 
mer of these gentlemen was attainted by King James’s Parliament, 
as an absentee, on the 7th of May, 1689, and Ins estate was se¬ 
questered, until it was restored on the reduction of Ireland by King 
William, who admitted Michael into ids Privy Council, and made 


CO 


him Custom Ttotulorum for the County of Down, which County he 
represented in Parliament. There are few families whose history is 
more intimately, connected with that of the Province of Ulster, since 
its plantation by James i. than that of Hill. r i he grand-father of this 
Michael Hill, was Peter Hid, the eldest son of Sir Moyses Kill, Kt. 
who, in the Earl of Tyrone's rebellion in the North, was one of 
those Noblemen and ( entlemen who, in 1573, were associated 
under the command of Walter Devereaux, Earl of Essex, to sup¬ 
press it. After the fatal disappointments and death of the Earl, lie 
served that unfortunate Nobleman s son, Robert Earl of Essex, who, 
on the 12th of March, 1598, was appointed Lord Deputy, and sent 
with a very considerable army to subdue the rebels. On Essex’s re- 
turn to England, in the month of September, 1599, Hill continued 
in the army of Lord Mountjoy, and was appointed by him to be Go¬ 
vernor of Oldenfleet Castle, an important fortress in those times, as 
it guarded the harbour of Larne from the invasion of the Scots.— 
After the suppression of that rebellion, and King James’s accession 
to the Crown, he served under Arthur Lord Chichester, who was for 
many years Lord Deputy of Ireland, and his Majesty King James 
I. in consideration of his sufficiency, valour, skill, and long expe¬ 
rience of his service in Ulster, constituted him, on the 15th of De¬ 
cember, 1603, the first Provost Mareschal of 1 ■ forces at Carrick- 
fergus, with the fee of six shillings a day; and, as it is expressed in 
his patent, “ forasmuch as the multitude of malefactors, and other 
loose and idle persons, within . e Province of Ulster, required that 
his Majesty should correct and repress them by some speedier and 
sharper means, than bv the ordinary course of common laws, and 
considering the martial law and orders thereof to be very necessary 
for the reformation of such loose vagrants; and having good experi¬ 
ence of the circumspection, industry, knowledge, &c., of Sir Moyses 
Hill, Knight.” His Majesty, on the 14th of April, 1617, appointed 
him for life, Provost Mareschal of the whole province of Ulster, with 
full power to try and examine all disorders and offences, and upon 
conviction, to proceed by martial law to judgment and punishment by 
death or otherwise, as the nature of the offence should merit. 

Peter Hill, Esq his son, the grandfather of the gentleman mentioned 
in the text among the defenders of Londonderry, was Sheriff of the 
county of Down in the year 1641, and Provost Mareschal thereof. 
His deposition forms a very curious historical document, from which 
I shall give a few extracts in this place—a)id here I cannot but ob¬ 
serve, that it would be a most acceptable service to the cause of the 
Constitution in Church and State, to publish a copy of the historical 
records relative to our country, which have been preserved in the 
library of Trinity College, Dublin. The fund of documents to he found 
there is very rich, but cannot be deemed safe from the hand of time, 
till preserved by the labours of the printer. On the 11th of February, 
1815, I presented to the Provost, Fellows, and Scholars of our Uni- 
▼ersity, a folio volume of Archbishop Nicholson’s manuscripts, given 


G1 


to me by a friend in the county of Londonderry, who had purchased 
them at the auction of the late Kennedy Henderson, Esq. of Castle- 
dawson—the board returned a letter of thanks for this, which they 
termed a valuable present. Nicholson's English and Scottish historical 
libraries, stamp a high value on his writings, a volume of which was 
published in London a few years ago; but he is said, by Walter 
Harris, to have fallen into many errors in his Irish historical library, 
though much gratitude is due to him, for the extraordinary pains which 
he took to acquire materials for improving the history of this Island. 

The late Doctor Barrett allowed me to look over the depositions in 
the manuscript room of Trinity College, relative to the massacres in 
18 V, at a time when I was collecting materials for my Annals of 
Ireland, and wished to ascertain, what has since been fully proved, 
that Doctor Curry was not correct in alleging that the massacre of some 
families in Island Magee, by the Scottish army of Carrickfergus, was 
the first outrage perpetrated on either side, at that melancholy period 
of our history. The Doctor assisted me in the search—but observed, 
that the College had always been very shy of letting these documents 
be seen or transcribed, for fear of their perpetuating ill will between 
Protestants and Roman Catholics. On this principle, however, the 
Doctor would have been consistent in recommending the destruction 
of every historical record, & the burning «f all the libraries in Europe. 
The best answer to this, and all other objections to the preservation of 
our history, is the observation of Seneca, prefixed as a motto to mv 
book— 


“ Consilium futuri ex preeterito venit .” 

According to the deposition of Peter Hill, Esq. he was in Dublin 
on the 23d of October, 1641, when the massacre commenced, 
and he was sent back to the Countv of Down in a shin, hv the 
Lords Justices and Council, with directions, that if it were possible, 
there should he Quarter Sessions sitting within that County, for in¬ 
dicting of the rebels, and this affords a proof that the Government 
of that day, so far from pushing matters to extremity at once, and 
drawing the sword too soon against tiie insurgents, were, perhaps, 
culpably slow in adopting any other than legal remedies against those 
who were going to war with them, and butchering, in a most cruel 
and unparalleled manner, their unoffending Protestant fellow-subjects. 
In this service Mr. Hill took so much pains, and so far hazarded him¬ 
self, that a Session was first held at Killileagh, where a great many 
rebels were legally indicted, and in another Session, at least an bun- 
dred in ore, in the executing of the writs of outlawry against whom, 
he was in great danger of his life, as well as those of his soldiers and 
servants, which he kept at great expense, and who attended him on 
that service. When he first heard of the general rising of the Irish, 
in the county of Down, and how the Protestants were robbed and 
stripped, and many of them murdered, he furnished himself with arm* 
for ninety-four men, having only powder, match, and shot, out of lfi» 


Majesty's stores, with which lift freighted a vessel from Dublin, and 
landing at Strangford, raised and armed a company, some horse and 
some foot, and kept them at his own expense for about a year and a 
half, during which time he drove out many rebels from those parts, 
and did other acceptable services to the English Government, until 
about- the 25th of May, 1644, when he eid Ids family were driven 
from his dwelling-house by s< /era! parties of Cue Scottish a*'my, hen' 
in rebellion against King Charles 1. They plundered Ids house end 
stock to a very great amount in value, and obliged him to fly to Dub¬ 
lin for safety. On the 211 ;ii of May, 1045, being examined by tb# 
Commissioners for ascertaining the extent of the sufferings of the Pro* 
instants in the massacre of 1641, Mr. Hill made oath, that about the 
beginning of March, 1642, fourscore men, women and children, Eng¬ 
lish and Scotch, were sent, by direction of Sir Phelim O’Neill, from 
the county of Armagh to ( him hoys, in the county of Down, where' 
they were mot by Captain Phelim Mac Art Mac Brien, and his com¬ 
pany of rebels, most of his own regiment, who carried and forced all 
these Protestants to a lough called Lough Keman, in the county of 
Down, and forced them upon the ice, both men, women, and chil¬ 
dren. That finding the ice so frozen that they could not be drowned, 
they forced them as far as they could on it; hut not daring to pursu# 
tluun for fear of breaking the ice under their own feet, they took the 
sucking children from their parents, and with all their strength, threw 5 
them as far as lliey were able towards the place where the ice was 
weakest : whereupon their parents, nurses, and friends, striving to 
fetch off the children, went so far that they broke the ice, and both 
they and the children perished by drowning, save one man that es¬ 
caped from them wounded, and one woman. A copy of this part of 
Mr. Hill’s deposition is preserved in the history of the county of 
Down, published by the Physiro Historical Society in Dublin, 1744, 
and Doctor Borlase informs us, that about the same time, in the 
neighbouring county of Armagh, three hundred Protestants were 
stripped naked, and put into the Church of Loughgall, whereof about 
an hundred were murdered in the Church; amongst whom was John 
Gregg, who was quartered, and his quarters thrown in the face of 
his father, Richard Gregg. The said Richard Gregg was then 
murdered, having received seventeen or eighteen wounds, and his 
body was quartered in the presence of Ids unfortunate wife, Mrs. 
Alice Gregg, who made an affidavit of the foregoing circumstances 
before Dean Jones, afterwards Bishop of Clogher, and the other 
Commissioners, appointed for the purpose of ascertaining the cruel¬ 
ties practiced by the rebels. 

The present esteemed Baronet who repretents the City of London¬ 
derry in Parliament, is of an ancient and distinguished branch of the 
family of Hill, which came into Ireland in the latter end of Queen 
Elizabeth’s reign, and has been connected with the families of Beres- 
ford, Rowley, Upton, 

{Samuel Hill, Esq. the great grand-father of the Right lion. Sir 


C3 


George Fitzgerald Hill, married Mary, daughter and heiress of Hugh 
Rowley, Esq. of Calmore Castle, near Tubbermore, and l>y this La¬ 
dy that, and another estate in the neighbourhood of Coleraine, came 
into the Hill family. The above mentioned Hugh, was brother to 
John and William Rowley, Esqrs. who were killed in an engagement 
with the Rebels, at Ballymoney, in the County of Antrim, in the 
month of March, 1641-2. 

Stanza XX —Line 1.—“ Great Skiving ton from Massareen•* 

“ Next unto these brave Skivington’s regiment, 

Into the camp in gallant order went.” 

Armagh MSS* 

Skivington was the ancient way of spelling this name, and I have 
followed the authority of the Armagh manuscript, and the inscription 
on the monument in the Church of Broxbourne, in England, which 
was erected to the memory of one of this noble family in 1647. The 
person here mentioned was Sir Clotworthy Sketfington, the 2d Viscount 
Massareen, then in early youth, who was instrumental in preserving the 
province of Ulster from the ravages of King James’s array; for when 
the Protestaut nobility and gentry of that Province foresaw that their 
preparations for their necessary defence, would incense the govern¬ 
ment, and draw down an array, they prepared for what they expected* 
by entering into an association for mutual safety; and with Lord 
Mount Alexander, Sir Clotworthy Skeffington was nominated Com- 
mander-in-Chief of the county of Antrim, and made Colonel of a 
regiment of foot, raised in that county. The other members of tim 
Antrim Association at this time, were— 

William Franklin, William Shaw, Henry M‘Culloch, maternal ancestor of 
the present Bishop of Down and Connor—a steady friend to the Church and th# 
Crown, Arthur Upton, Robert Adair, William Lesley, Charles Stewart, Ed¬ 
ward Harrison, Patrick Shaw, John Donaldson, William Cunningham, Wm. 
Shaw, James M‘Cartney, John Guest, George Butthel, George Johnston, 
Ilenrv Clements, Edward Clements, Richard Dobbs, junior, William Shaw, 
Michael Harrison, and James Shaw. 

Sir Clotworthy Skeffington’s father, Sir John, was living during 
the Siege of Londonderry. He had been appointed by James II. 
Governor of the county of Londonderry, and sworn of his Privy 
Council; but being a strenuous assert or of the Protestant interest, he 
became a great sufferer in the province of Ulster. He contributed a 
considerable sum towards the defence of Londonderry, for which, 
and other services there, he was exempted from mercy by Tirconnel’s 
proclamation, dated Marcli 7th, 1689 ; and when the army, con¬ 
sisting of fifteen thousand men, under Gen. Hamilton and Major Gen. 
Sheldon, had in the same month taken Hillsborough, they plundered 
Lisburn, Belfast, and Antrim, and particularly Lord Massareene, to 
the amount of three or four thousand pounds, in money and plate, 
which being concealed about his house, was discovered by bis ser¬ 
vants for a reward of ten guineas. They also took all the furniture 
of his house, to a great value; and during the Siege of Londonderry, 


'when the town was much alarmed by the approach of the enemy, the 
garrison being informed that about 60 tons of salmon, his Lordship’s 
property, were deposited in a warehouse near the City, they seized 
the whole of it, except forty barrels, which fell into the enemy’s ha)ids. 
He and his sen were attainted by King James’s Parliament, and his 
estate, of £4340 per annum, was sequestered—but the attainder was 
taken off, and he was restored to his estate on the success of William 
III., and in that King’s Parliament, which met on the 5th of Oc¬ 
tober, 1692, he took his seat; and on the 22(1 of the same month, 
was one of the Committee which prepared an address of thanks to 
their Majesties, for their care in delivering Ireland from Popery 
and Slavery. 

Line 3.—“ Valiant Cross from Dartan Green.” 

John Cross and William Cross, were two of the defenders of Lon¬ 
donderry, who signed the address to King William and Queen Mary 
from that city, on the 29th of July, 1689. They were the uncles of 
Anne Cross, who in the year 1742 was married to Lieutenant Jas. 
Graham, of the Fermanagh Militia, then resident at Clfnes, in the 
county of Monaghan, grandfather of the author of this w£fk, in whose 
family their swords are yet preserved. 

Line 4—“ Audley Mervyn.” 

“ Then Audley Mervyn from Omagh was sent, 

To join our forces with a regiment.” 

Armagh MSS . 

Audley Mervyn, of Trillick, in the county of Tyrone, Esq. He 
married Olivia, daughter of Thomas Coote, of Cootehill, in the coun¬ 
ty of Cavan, Esq. He was the namesake & successor (in the Omagh 
estate) of the celebrated officer of that name, who was so distinguished 
in the civil wars which ensued after the massacres of 1641, but whose 
glory was tarnished by afterwards joining the cause of Oliver Crom¬ 
well against his lawful Sovereign. 

Line 5.—“ George Maxivell. 

“ From Killyleagh, young Sir George Maxwell, 

Was to that regiment Lieutenant-Colonel.” 

Armagh MSS. 

The following persons of this name were attainted by King James’* 
Parliament, on the 7th of May, 1689 :—Arthur Maxwell, gentle¬ 
men ; George Maxwell, Esq. ; Hugh Maxwell, gentleman ; all of 
the County of Down—James Maxwell, junr. Esq. County of Lon¬ 
donderry ; James Maxwell, gentleman, County of Tyrone; Rev. 
James Maxwell, County of Leitrim ; John Maxwell, gentleman. 
County of Cavan; Robert Maxwell, gentleman, of the same ; Win. 
Maxwell, gentleman, of the County of Monaghan; Robert Maxwell, 
Esq. Queen’s County; and James Maxwell, Esq. County of Armagh. 
The sufferings of Doctor Robert Maxwell, of Tynan, and his brother, 


65 


Captain James Maxwell, in 1841, are detailed in Sir John Temple s 
History of the Irish Rebellion. 

Line 6.—“ Cairnes of Knock many” 

David Cairnes, of Knockmany, in the county of Tyrone, Esq, 
maternal ancestor of William Henderson, Esq. late of Castletown, in 
the county of Tyrone, and of the Rev. Joseph Henderson Singer, 
Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin. The services of this chief of 
the defenders of Londonderry, will be detailed in their proper place in 
the Diary; and it may be sufficient to observe here, that his grave 
was opened at the upper end of it, but not disturbed, by the work¬ 
men who lately erected the wall at the back of the new Sessions 
House. His tombstone, which had been before broken, was then 
removed from the grave, but has been since replaced. The following 
is a copy of what remains of the inscription on it:—“ Here under 
was interred the body of David Cairnes, Esq. Counsellor at Law, 
so greatly known, and regarded for his many and great services done 
by him for this City of Londonderry, and its preservation and safety, 
when in utmost danger, and proved so conducive to that grand revo¬ 
lution we had in these kingdoms, in 1688 and 1689—with much sore 
travels, and many hazards of his life. He was much beloved, living 
and dying, for the many good qualities and parts he was evidently 
blessed with, as appeared on many occasions. He was also 30 years.’* 
Here the inscription ends, the rest having been broken away—but 
tradition supplies the remainder of the sentence, viz.—that he was for 
30 years the representative of the City of Londonderry in Parliament* 
There is a tomb in the grave-yard of Donoughmore, with an inscrip¬ 
tion on it to the memory of a Sir Henry Cairnes, of the county of 
Donegal, but whether he was of the family of the hero of London¬ 
derry or not, I have been unable to ascertain. The Armagh Poet 
thus notices the services of David Cairnes :— 

« Cairnes of Knockmany at Derry fought.” 

MSS. Lib. 1, Sec . 16. 

And again in the description of the battle near Elagh-— 

“ Against the weakest side our general saw. 

The enemy their greatest forces draw, 

Which to prevent, with all the forces he 
Sprung forth at morn to fight the enemy. 

Near Elagh in the parks Murray came on 
The Irish army, led by Hamilton. 

Where he continued fighting till ’twas noon, 

When we were flank’d by th’ enemy’s dragoon. 

To beat off which, he chose five hundred men. 

With captains Taylor, Moore, and SaundersQN. 

Murray himself did the brave troops command, 

Who bravely did the foes’ dragoons withstand. 

<3i (*it Pusignan came boldly up to fight, 

Bur Murray quickly put him to the flight. 

Berwick and Pontee likewise wounded were, 

- - — ytj valiant Murray and the brave Pvnjsae. 

l 


66 


Brave Major Bull did wonders in that fight, 

For he beat back the enemy on the right. 

Crofton and B ashford did much honour gain. 

By Captain Noble multitudes were slain. 

From Lisneskea in Fermanagh he came, 

But now he’s Major Noble of the same. 

Cairnes in our centre stood firm as a rock. 

And ne’er was moved by their mighty shock, 
lie and his friends oppos’d tbe enemy, 

And in this battle fought most valiantly. 

Lieutenant Lindsey, Baron of Dunrode’s son. 

He in this battle great applauses won. 

Captain Barrel from Urney, near Strabane, 

Did in this action reputation gain. 

Sanderson of Tillylagan, in Tyrone, 

With bravery gieat reputation won. 

The valiant Moore of Augher, with great might. 
Cut down the enemy in this bloody fight. 

Lieutenant Cooke oppos’d the enemy, 

And forc’d their bravest warriors to fly. 

Lord Abercorn both quit Ins boots and horse, 

W ithout his cloak he fled with all his force. 

Then in a trice we did the enemy beat, 

And caus'd them to their camp in haste retreat. 

We burn'd their store at Elah without pity. 

And then began to march home to the City.” 

Lib. iii.— Sec. 7. 


Stanza XXI —Line 3. — “ Johnson.” 

“ From Glaslough, Monaghan, and Caledon, 

A thousand foot were brought by Squire Johnson.” 

Armagh MSS. 

Two persons of the name of William Johnston (and not Johnson, 
as spelled in manuscript,) in the County of Monaghan, were 
attainted by King James’s Parliament of 1689, with the following 
Gentlemen of that name in other Counties, viz.:— 

Alexander Johnston, Andrew Johnston, Alexander John¬ 
ston, Francis Johnston, James Johnston, Robert Johnston, Gen¬ 
tlemen, and Walter and Robert .Johnston, Esquires, all of the 
County of Fermanagh—George and Hugh Johnston, of the County 
of Down, George Johnston, of the County of Antrim—Captain 
John Johnston, of Londonderry—-Rev. Archibald Johnston, of Ar¬ 
magh—John Johnston, gentleman, Kilkenny—John Johnston, junr, 
of Westmeath, and Rit-hard Johnston, gentleman, of Kerry. 

Line 5.— Graham.” 


“ Alderman Graham laid to his helping hand 
With storey,and money.” 


Armagh MSS. 


I cannot elaim the honour of a descent from this patriotic Aider- 
man, for my ancestor of that day was James Graham, of Mullina- 
liinch, in the county of Fermanagh, a Cornet in one of the regiment* 
raised in that part of the country, for the defence of Enniskillen.— 


<37 


His son, James Graham, of Clones, my grand-father, was Lieuten¬ 
ant of Lieut.-Colonel Samuel Molyneaux Madden’s troop, in the regi¬ 
ment of dragoons commanded by Nicholas Archdall, Esq. in the 
militia of the County of Fermanagh—the date of the commission »» 
October 25th, F<44, and I preserve it as a literary curiosity, because 
it is signed by the celebrated Earl of Chesterfield, who was that 
time Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. For the satisfaction t i my own 
family, and that of many other of the same name and clan, scattered 
over the Province of Ulster, and other parts of Ireland, I take this 
opportunity of preserving some documents relative to om* ancestors 
on the English borders, with an account of their removal into Ire- 
land, by a most arbitrary and tyrannical stretch of regal power by 
James, in consequence of a prejudice previously entertained against 
them, because, in the feuds between the two nations, they bad generally 
taken part with the English side. They claimed their descent from 
the Earls of Stratheme, of the name of Graham, and were hardy 
men of great jKnver on the borders—they lived like other borderers* 
in these troubled times, in a state of warfare, having. epeated 
quarrels and hereditary feuds with the Johnstons, Maxwells, and 
other clans, on the Scottish side of the border. In the year 
1550, the Johnstons and Maxwells, and other West Borderers, 
to the number of one thousand men, entered the debateable land, 
and burned the house of one Armstrong, on which occasion, 
the Grahams and other borderers of the debateable land, skirm¬ 
ished with them, and slew some men ; Lord Dacre, (whose de¬ 
scendants have been since proprietors of the Clones estate , in the 
County of Monaghan) then Warden of the West Marches, having* 
his forces drawu up to support them, but not crossing the border to 
avoid violation of the peace. In King Edward Vltft’s. Journal of his 
own time, a copy of which may he found in the Appendix to Bishop 
Burnett’s History of the Reformation, there is the following note of 
this affair:—“ 16th of August, 1550, the Earl of Maxwell came 
down to the North Border with a good force, to overthrow the Gra¬ 
nges, who were a certain family that were yielded to me ; but the 
Lord Dacre stood before his force with a good band of men, and so 
put him from Ins purpose, and the Gentlemen called Grames skir¬ 
mished with the said Earl, skying certain of his men.” In Nichol¬ 
son’s History of Cumberland, there is an account of a long corres¬ 
pondence about tins affair, and the resentment of the Scotch vas so 
great, that many of the men of the debateable land, threatened to 
become leige men of Scotland, to avoid the effects of their ven¬ 
geance, unless the English Warden would agree to protect them ef¬ 
fectually. The end of the dispute was, that the debateable land 
•was divided between the two kingdoms, by Commissioners, assigning 
the upper part of it to Scotland, and the lower, where most of the 
Grahams dwelt, to England. 

The leaders of the clan in 1000, were— 

Walter Grame, the gootknan of N ether hy j John Grame, of Aughousewety 


68 


Fergus Grame, of Sowport ; David Grame, of the Milieus; John Grame, of 
thg Reretree ; the Goodman of the Moat; young Hutchins’ Clan; Vv illiara 
Grame ; William Grame, son to Robbie ; Jocks Johnie ; Robert Grame, son 
to Hutchins; Davie and his brother Andrew; Hutchins Arthur ; Wm. Grame, 
of the Fald ; William Grame, of the Kosetrees ; {these two hud a great num¬ 
ber of followers.) Davie, of Ranh head; Jock, of the Lake; Dicks Davie; 
William Grame, goodman of Meclop. 

James VI., on hif* accession to the Crown of England, banished the 
Grames, or transplanted then? to the North of Ireland—his arbitrary 
proclamation, alleges that tlmy had petitioned for their removal from tha 
country, as being no meet persons to live in it. Much of this King’s 
animosity against the Grames, was suspected to have arisen from 
their constant adherence to tin English interest. There was a tax im¬ 
posed on Cumberland for the expense of transporting them, the total 
of which amounted to £408 19s 9d. sterling. They were trans¬ 
ported at three different times, the money being divided among them 
at the rate of about one or two pounds each. Nicholson has pub¬ 
lished the names of those who were removed at the second and third 
transportations. Most of these particulars are extracted from the 
Introduction to the Border History, and are taken by the Authors of 
that Work, from a folio manuscript, written by Richard Ball, Clerk 
of the Marches in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. 

The Grahams were great favourites on the Border, and their ban¬ 
ishment was celebrated by a popular song to a pathetic air, called 
“ I tv ill aiva, and ‘will not tarry ”—A copy of it is preserved in 
the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, with some additional verses 
on the occasion of the Marquis of Montjose’s misfortunes in the 
reign of Charles I.—It runs thus:— 

“ Now fra thee well, sweet Ennordale, 

Baith kith and countrie 1 bid adieu, 

For I maun away, and I may not stay, 

To some uncouth land which I never knety. 

To wear the blue I think it best, 

Of all the colours that I see, 

And I’ll wear it for the gallant Grahams, 

That are banished from their ain countrie. 

I have no gold, I have no land, 

I have no pearl nor precious stane, 

But I would sell my silken snood, 

To see the gallant Grahams come liame. 

In Wallace days, when they began, 

Sir John the Graham did beat; the gree, 

Throngh all the lands of Scotland wide, 

He was the Lord of the-south countrie. 

And sa was seen full many a time, 

For the summer flowers did never spring, 

But every Graham, in armour bright, 

Wou^ii then appear before the king. 


They all were dress’d in armour sheeu, 

Upon"the pleasant banks of Tay, 

Before a king they might be seen, 

These gallant Grahams in array.” 

In the earlier copies of the song, this last stanza ran thus :—* 

“ They all were dress’d in armour fine. 

Upon the plesant banks of Tyne.” 

Which must have applied to the Border Grahams, not to those ef 
Mentieth. 

Stanza XXII— Line 1.—“ BabirMon ” 

O 

William Babington was one of those who signed the address to 
King William and Queen Mary, at Londonderry, ou the 29th of 
July 1689. This family, which still holds a respectable rank in the 
Counties of Londonderry and Donegal, is descended from Brutus 
Babington, Doctor of Divinity, a native of Cheshire, and Fellow of 
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge—he was promoted to the Bi- 
ehoprick of Derry by King James I., and consecrated at Diogheda 
in the year 1610—he died the year following. The persons of this 
name attainted by King James’s Parliament, on the 7th of May, 1689, 
were—Matthew Babington, of the County of Tyrone, gentleman ; 
William Babington, Esq. and Uriah Babington, of Cork. On the 
7th of August, 1642, Mr. Brian Babington was buried in London¬ 
derry, and on the 6th of May, 1643, Elizabeth, wife of Edwin 
Babington, was also interred there. 

Line 2.—“ Michelburn.” 

For an account of this distinguished man, see the Diary. The 
following is a copy of the inscription on his tomb-stone, in the 
old Church-yard of Glendermctt, which is in complete preserva¬ 
tion. For many years after his death, and even in the memory 
of some persons now living, a convivial association of tradesmen ex¬ 
isted in Deny, who called themselves the Michel burn Club, and 
made an annual visit to the tomb of the hero :— 

“ Here lieth the body of Colonel J )lm Michelburn, grand-son of Sir Rich¬ 
ard Michelburn, of Broadheart, Stanmore, in the County of Sussex, a valiant 
soldier, faithful, pious, and charitable, expecting the resurrection of the ju.vt. 
He was Governor and Commander-in-Chief in the late memorable siege of 
Londonderry, in 1689, in defence of the Protestant Interest, in the first year 
of the reign of King William, of blessed memory. He had thanks from the 
King for that eminent service, and deceased on the 1st day of October, in the 
year of our Lord, 1721, in the 76th year of his age.” 

Michelburn does not seem to have been a favourite with the His¬ 
torical Poet, whose work was found in Armagh, for he is mentioned 
in it but twice, and on one of these occasions it is alleged, that th« 
Council formed for the redress of grievances, in the City, had put 
him under an arrest. He is, however, thus praised at the expense 
of Governor Walker, by a friend who published a defence of his 
character, already mentioned :—“ Though loud tongued fame so 
highly has blown the great renown of Doctor Walker in England, as 


70 


truly mudi praise was due to him for bavin?? been so great an anima¬ 
tor of the Protestant cause in these worst of times, which was his 
proper trade to be ; yet after the death of Colonel Baker, which 
happened in the height of the town’s distress, and deepe-t calamities, 
Colonel Michelburn was in joint command with the Doctor, whose 
conduct appears more conspicuous in the eating part than the fighting, 
and reason good, the charge of the stores being committed to him 
alone, whilst his brother Governor was only the martial colleague, 
and the entire management of the town’s defence lodged wholly in 
Colonel Michelhnrn’8 breast during the whole time. As his principles 
were too honorable to listen to any allurements of the enemy without 
the walls, so his hardships within were not able to shake his loyalty, 
nor lessen his undaunted courage, which appeared particularly in his 
planting the bloody Flag on the Royal Bastion, and afterwards 
mounting it on the Steepleof the Cathedral, to shew the beseiged, 
as well as the besiegers, the height of resolution, as they found in 
the sequel, for when the enemy’s politick barbarity had driven the 
Protestant part of ail the country around, without respect of per¬ 
sons, age, or sex, to starve under Derry walls, to return the great 
civility with no less policy than bravery, he erected a lofty Gallows 
in sight of them, to hang twenty-one Lords, Knights, and 
other Commanders, which had been taken before, as trophies of 
a victory lately obtained, which stratagem obliged the foe to let the 
affrighted people retire from danger. Nor had he the happiness^only* 
to save the town through that miserable siege, a service of so high 
importance, that the King’s then tottering interest in Ireland was 
kept in equilihrio by him, till Lieutenant-General Kirk approaching,, 
turned the scales ; hut he had the unhappiness likewise of feeling, in a 
great measure, the smart of war, as well as the reaping the glory of it, 
having had the irreparable misfortune of losing his dear Lady and chil¬ 
dren, with all his family, by the rage of pestilence and deadly famine, 
in this terrible siege. Yet tho’ he had so dismal an occasion of exer¬ 
cising his passive as well as his active courage, my much honoured 
friend, constant to both sorts of magnanimity, with the same equal 
temper, bore the fortune which dressed his brows with cypress, as that 
which crowned them with victorious laurels.” When Colonel Michel¬ 
burn was accused by two of his officers already mentioned, of having 
plundered some towns after he had taken Sligo by storm, no Magistrates 
in the country would take the informations, upon which they dispatch¬ 
ed one George Rob, a tobacco merchant, to Dublin, to lodge the 
complaint—the result, however, proved highly honourable to the ac¬ 
cused hero, and among other testimonials which were elicited by* 
the accusation, were the following from the City of Londonderry 
and the town of Coleraine :_ 

“ WE, the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses, of the City of 
Londonderry, do hereby attest and certify that Colonel John 
Michelburn, Governor of said City, and since the Siege of Derry 
having his regiment, or a great part of them, quartered here many 


71 


months, kept said garrison in good order, discipline, and temper, and 
paid their quarters, and was careful of the preservation of the place, 
both from any insults of the enemy, and from all irregularities of his 
soldiers, and by all means in his power made his government in this 
garrison on all occasions easy and pleasing to us, for which service and 

deportment he was elected and sworn an alderman of the City_- 

in testimony whereof we have set our hands, and affixed the common 
seal of this City, the 3d day of February, 1690—Gervais Squire, 
Mayor, Samuel Norman, Alexander Tomkins, Alexander Lecky, 
Thomas Moncrief, Henry Ash, William Crookshank, Robert Shenan, 
William Morrison, John Harvey, Francis Neville, Albert Hall, Alex¬ 
ander Cunningham, Joi n Crookshanks, John Nightengale, George 
Gravel, John William Mackie, Robert Harvey.” 

• M- 

“WE, the inhabitants of the Town of Coleraine, do certify, that 
during the time the regiment belonging to the Honourable Colonel 
Michelburn, Governor of Londonderry, did quarter and keep garrison 
in this place, both officers and soldiers behaved themselves very or¬ 
derly, soberly, and civilly, to the town and country people, paying 
thankfully for what they called for, which we certify as truth to whom 

it may concern.—Dated at Coleraine, the 3d of February, 1690_- 

William Godfrey, Mayor, Richard Adams, Edmond Howard, Alex¬ 
ander MacPhilip, Daniel Browne, Richard Lynam, Thomas Lances, 

John Twaddle, David Wilson, John G-, James Oustiane, Wra. 

Ross, and Hugh Bankhead.” 

Line 3.—“ Adam Murray .” 

For the actions of this hero, I must refer to the Diary. The Ar¬ 
magh Bard thus notices him urging the Derrymen to reject the pro¬ 
posals sent to them by King James from Mongevlin, by his host, 
Archdeacon Hamilton :— 

“ Archdeacon Hamilton by James is sent, 

Unto the City with this compliment, 

If they in four days wotdd yield up the town, } 

All the inhabitants should have their own, C 

'With pardon for all past rebellion. j 

And he in his commission sped so well, 

That Lundy forc’d the town to article. 

TIi’ ingenious Neville, and the said Divine, 

Went to King James to tell him they would sign 
In a few days; to hasten which the King, 

The Irish army to the town did bring. 

Delays are dangerous, and he push’d on, 

The town to sign capitulation. 

Which being signed and ready to be sent, 

Great Murray throws himself and regiment 
Just to the walls, who lay then at Culmore, 

And bravely fought'his wray upon the shore. 

Lundy refus’d him entrance, but the town 
Open’d the gate, unto their great renown. 

The loyal party knew his grand design, 

Then to his conduct they themselves resign. 

Then in a moment all the town rebels, 



72 


And curse the author of the articles, 

For at the guard a proclamation’s made, 

That all true hearts repair to the parade, 

With handkerchiefs on arms that all shall die, 

Who would yield up the town to Popery. 

Then in a trice eight thousand men convene. 

To whom great Murray did this speech begin : 

Dear friends this City is our last effort, 

Let’s not quit this I earnestly exhort. 

Lest that in Albion t’ our disgrace be spoke. 

That we submitted to the Irish yoke. 

Hold out brave boys, England will succour send. 

If we like men the City do defend. 

Here are sufficient to sustain a siege. 

If we to loyalty ourselves oblige. 

Yet all is vain if we do not expel 
The traitor Lundy with his false cabal. 

The town consents, huzzas now rend the sky. 

Then unto Lundy all in haste do lly, 

To whom great Murray spoke this fatal speech : 

Of treachery I do you now impeach, 

Both to the Protestant cause and to our King, 

A Popish reign upon us you do bring; 

You quit the country to the enemy, 

At Claudy ford you caus’d Our men to fly. 

And now r you’re thinking to betray the town, 

By a capitulation of your own. 

Therefore lay down your power, for We’ll chuse 
Such loyal men as will oppose our foes. 

Lieutenant Cook, who from fair Lisburn came. 
Courageously did the same cause maintain. 

Great Murray seiz’d the guards, the keys, and alj. 

They presently a gen’ral council call. 

The Church and Kirk do thither jointly go, 

In opposition to the common foe— 

Although in time of peace they disagree, 

Yet sympathize they in adversity. 

Them in like words great Murray thus addrest: 

Dear friends th’ intestine foe I have supprest. 

Herd at your feet I’ll lay down all my power. 

If you'll contrive how we may best secure 
This loyal town. Then all with one consent. 

Agreed upon this form of government : 

Baker and Walker governors they chose, 

With eighteen regiments t’ oppose the foes. 

The horse to Colonel Murray they bestow, 

Him gen’ral in the army they allow. 

From Pliilipshaugh near Tweed his father came. 

Where they enjoy the Lairdship of that name. 

The noble name of Murray is well known. 

For their great service to the Royal Crown. 

Cairnes of Knockmany his Lieutenant-Colonel, 

From county of Meath his brave Major Bull. 

Cochran, Carleton, Moore, Stephen, Herd, and Murray 
His valiant brother, Captains to him be. 

The borderers did fill his regiment, 

Who to the field with noble courage went.” 

' Itib, ii. gee. G, 7, 8, $ Oi 


73 


The Cattle of Mongevlin, or Magevlin, from which Archdeacon 
Hamilton brought King James’s proposal of surrender to the City of 
Londonderry, is thus mentioned in Captain Pynnar’s survey of the 
escheated counties of Ulster, in 1G19:_ 

“ Sir John Stewart hath three thousand acres called Cashed, Hetin, 
and Littergull. Upon this proportion there is built at Magevlin a very 
strong Castle, with a flanker at each corner, hut as yet there is no 
bawne nor freeholders made, and for want of them lie saith the Duke 
of Lenox shall answer to the King. But 1 saw the land well inhabit¬ 
ed and full of people ; but what estates they have 1 know not, neither 
would he call the tenants together, hut shewed me a eounterpaine of 
a lease, and said that each of his tenants had the like.”— (Harris's 
Hibernica.) 

The gateway erected at this time between Mongevelin Castle and 
the Foyle, is still standing; but a small limestone flag, with the fol¬ 
lowing inscription fell from the centre of the arch over it, and is now 
lying in the court-yard, with another on coarse white marble:—* 

I. S. 

E. S. T. 

1619. 

The inscription on the marble flag is as follows :—“ The Honorable 
Elizabeth Hamilton, daughter of John, Lord Culpepper, widow of 
Colonel James Hamilton, who lost his life at sea, at Spain, in the 
service of his King and country, purchased this manor, and annexed it 
to the opposite estate of the family, (Donnelong) which paternal estate 
itself was improved by her prudent management to near the yearly 
income of the dower she received thereout. She also settled on her 
younger son, William Hamilton, Esq. an estate she acquired in Eng¬ 
land, of equal value in the purchase to that, and gave every one of her 
numerous offspring, descended from both branches, some considerable 
mark of her parental care. Her eldest son James, Earl of Abercorn, 
and Viscount Strahane, hath caused this inscription to be placed 
here for the information of her posterity.” This flag lies against the 
front wall of the Castle, which is fast mouldering into ruin. 

The ingenious Neville, mentioned by the Armagh Poet, was Cant. 
Francis Neville, an able engineer, who drew a map of Londonderry 
and its environs, as it appeared during the Siege. His daughter, by 
Isis wife, Jane Moore, married John Rea, greatgrandfather of John 
Rea, Esq. of St. Columhs, and of Charles Rea, Esq. of Eathmullan, 
the latter of whom has in his possession a miniature picture of Charles 
I. bequeathed by the wife of Captain Francis Neville to Charles Rea, 
Esq. granduncle of the gentleman above-mentioned. This lady was 
buried in the Church-yard of Belturbet, in the county of Cavan, 
where the following inscription remains on her tomb:—“ This monu¬ 
ment, was erected by Francis Neville, Esq. in memory of Mrs. Jane 
Moore, his wife, who departed this life the 4 th day of November, 
172J, in the 79th year of her age, and the 51st after her marriage, 

& 

■v 


Imvmtr 1 'W) wot tier of 24 children. Si r vrns t orn In flic parish of llcyo® 
Hertibni-Ukv, of a trood family, ami cams into this kingdom soon after 
the re iralM :) of tho 1 loyal faniilv, wiili oil' William Domvilloslady* 
£.'ii 1 Iyeth hariod under thi? monument. Site was friendly to her 
neirhlmurs, and clwriinble to the poor." 

TU array V prowess at the battle of l^Minyhiirn mill, is thus described 
ill the Armagh Manuscript :. 

“ Ikctorv; bv the stout Achilles slain, Sec. &c. &C* 

y J 


Kmuliau Turuus great .Eneas slew; 

J‘Yoii) David’s sling a mighty stone there flew, 

Which sunk (lie proud Goliali down to hell; 
iiv A1 array Mai moot the trench gen’rat fell. 

Co Sunday morn th’ appointed day commenc’d^ 

. break of dry the Irish horse advanc’d 
J li squadrons two ; their horse prepar’d to fight 
< u tin. 1 St wing; their foot were on the right. 

.is * .out their horse, Hamilton their foot coma and, 

• 1/umyburn liter they began to stand. 

'S . ' 'iii:d of drum- ami * umiK'ts rend the air, 

Tim iiow’r of all king Jr mes s men were there. 

Tut n noble hi array hastens to die st rand, 

V.'i.o m like manner does Ills troops command, 
h oo; against foot, horse against horse he plac’d, 

Jr ret order he the on’my fac’d. 

lie v. in a thousand foot his horse sustain’d, 

Vfhirh noble stratagem the battle gain’d, 
i humted upon a gallant steed that hour, 

Isc f«>tight toe Irish Avitli unequal power. 

The ioud huzzas of botli hosts rent the sky, 

* uci; side prepar’d to meet the enemy. 

The French came on with glittering sword in hand, 
lint our smart firing made their horse to stand. 

]V aimont the French, Murray our horse led on, 
Tnirst of power led their ambition. 

Murray like thunder thro’ their squadroti broke, 

-A gsdiaiit Mon' ieur fell at every stroke. 

Ai uniout did likewise with like terror ride 
'1 i. m.fgh our troops, slaying on every side. 

.lick's squadrons fight with equal force and rage. 

And in close combat mutually engage, 
j id dentil and wounds had cover’d all the shore. 

For both reserves had fled the spot before, 

For our reserve had fled into the town. 

And their reserve could not keep their ground; 

Fm- brave Seeddle, an English buccaneer, 

W ho led. the thousand foot caus’d them retire. 

In the pursuit brave Major Taafe was slain, 

Brave Captain Cochran did the banne*r gain. 
.Lieutenant (. arr, the Laird of Gradon’s son. 

In the pursuit great reputation won. 

Ike strand thus clear’d, Murray and Maimont mc*t, 
Who nidi dire threat’niugs one another greet ; 
lor they had olt sought one another out. 

But still were parted in the bloody rout. 

First they discharg’d their pistols on the spot, 




In 

v Inch 

fir 

t firing T T 

nnviv’s horse was 

shot; 

Vi 

! the ! 

;rav 

e 1 >east r.e’ 

er feels the dcadh 

v wound. 

»): 

: t w i:< 

Yi 

c <’. nr: ’•< 

d on the blood 

ground. 

R 

doubi: 

mJ 1 

ilows trey 

<;• ve v ith sword ’ 

n hand. 

W 

id: ii; 

;e si 

rung armo 

... scarcely could 

withstand. 

T) 

:ev tin: 

_1 

n u 

t J-.i.e tii>' 

■ d :.s at the for 



V. Yen tiH'v their TOPinl on the anvil urge. 

A - !;*• t tbfir swards in several pieces flew, 

Thci. w in. ihc-ir rapiers they renew. 

The brave Mahno it began to ’'.dsny, 

d.ovght the <i»v Ins o..r. inimed’nttly# 

} ic win !*i\l his horse, vdfdi then began to spurn, 
5 it nobit* Murray mr .c a quick return, 

For ur.d^r hi- rw n;l arm ins blade he thrust, 

Tib r. b: neck the pr ! A* gore out burs., 

Ills fleeting soul with .lie Yee blood expir’d, 

And our great hero to the foot retir'd.- -Lih. U;.~~ 


o 


The mission of ('olonel Murray’s father is thus related 


u ( \mh >• 1 Hamilton hail intelligence, 

THt Murray’s father liv’d not . r frotn thence, 
V.’'s)’>; eighty years of ago, ami somewhat more, 

I’Ve him he sent a guard with mighty power, 

To bring him pris’ner to their northern camp ; 

'i ll’s great surprise did not his courage damp, 

1 or w ith the guard the old man hastens on, 

T’ appear before great General Hamilton. 

With great: courage the senior ask d his will; 

('noth he vour son does ’gainst the King rebel. 

And fo- :es them to hold the City out, 

W n il' you may counsel better without doubt. 

In short, we’ll hang you up immediately, 

Jf you’ll not make him with our will comply. 

To whom the senior gave this answer straight: 

I’ll use authority, and all my might, 

Eut when all’s done I’am sure he’ll near disown. 
His firm allegiance to the English crown. 

But if you’ll guard me to the town I’ll try. 

If I can make him with your will comply. 

In haste he’s guarded to the loyal town, 

Where he’s receiv’d with great joy by his son. 

They tenderly do one another greet, 

And his grave parent counsels him what’s meet. 

Hear son I’am sent by Gen’ral Hamilton, 

To see if I can make you quit the town. 

But by this sacred book I you conjure, 

Never to yield unto a Popish power ; 

Our holy faith and loyalty enjoin, 

A strict abhorrence of a Popish reign. 

Thus Hannibal was at the altar swore 
Eternal foe unto the Roman pow’r. 

With kind embraces the old man departs. 

And to the General the sad news imparts, 

That naught could force his son to quit the town, 
And therefore humbly begs protection. 

The gen’rous Hamilton does grant the same. 

Then to his dwelling the grave senior came. 

Where all along he did in safety dwell, 

Tho’ by his son the Irish army fell. ”— Ibid) sec. 0* 


h 2, 3. 


/ 

j 


76 


Colonel Murray distinguished himself highly at the battle of 

Club, where he and an olfieer named Dunbar, wounded two of the 

French off cits, Berwick and Pontell. He was shot duo' the body 

¥ 

at the storming of Butehers’-gate, but the wound did not prove 
mortal. 

“ In a few days their foot, and grenadiers, 

To storm our walls at Butchers’-gate appears. 

The storm was fierce, then Murray sallies out. 

At Bisbops’-gate, and puts them to the rout. 

__ — — valiant Murrray fought, 

.And hew’d down hundreds, who his ruin sought, 

Till a fierce bullet thro’ his body past, 

Then we retreated to the town at last. 

' Our wounded General On his feet came back, 

And ne’er complain'd that lie blood did lack. 

Brave James Murray, a volunteer, is slain, 

"Who in all actions did applauses gain. 

In a few hours Cochran revenge demands, 

And in their lines with a battalion stands. 

Captain Wilson and McCulloch lend their aid. 

Who in their lines a horrid slaughter made, 

And to their General this service paid. 

His wound was great, hut by the mighty skill 
Of Aikin and of Heroin an, he grew well 
In seven weeks time.”— Ibid, sec. 12. 

Line 4.—“ Baker renown d in story.'' 

Colonel Baker, Governor of Londonderry, who died in that com¬ 
mand June 30th, 1789. Walker, who acted along with him as Go¬ 
vernor, speaks thus of him in his Diary, page 25 His death 
was a sensible loss to us, and generally lamented, being a valiant 
person ; in all his actions among us he shewed the greatest honour, 
courage and conduct, and would it suit the designs of a Journal, 
might fill a great share of this account with his character.” Mac¬ 
kenzie says, (page 70) that he died justly lamented by the garrison, 
in whose affections his pm dent and resolute conduct had given him 
great interest. He is thus noticed in the Armagh manuscript:— 

“ Baker and Walker Governors they chose, 

And form’d eight regiments to oppose their foes.”— Lib. ii. see. 3. 

“ The foot in manner following they disperse, 

Baker and Walker Colonels they chose.”— Ibid, sec. 10. 

“ This victory confirm’d the government, 

Baker and Walker immediately consent, 

T. sc:tie quarters, and to regulate 
Tl -stores, o’er which Harvey a merchant set. 

The town into four quarters they divide. 

And place two regiments on every side. 

’They gather’d all provisions to a store. 

And equally dispense to rich and poor. 

This was good policy without all doubt. 

That they might longer hold the City out. 

They plac’d two great guns at the steeple top, 

Which gave the Irish many a deadly pop. 

The\ placed gunners likewise on the walls, 

And then dispatch cad matter as it falls.”— Lib. Hi. sec. o. 


“ About this time the noble Baker ih'es, 

His loyal soul to bis Creator flies. 

He’s much lamented mul admir’d by all, 

Who knew his merits, for they were not small. 

The town lie govern'd wfth assiduous care, 

Was sound in Coureii and expert in war. 

Loyal and faithful to our sovereign King, 

True to the Protestant cause in ev’ry tiling. 

Great was his strength of body, but his soul 
Hid greater actions, which none dare controui. 

True to his friend, and faithful to his trust. 

Upright in dealing, and to ail men just. 

In solemn manner we his corps inter, 

As it became a valiant man of war. 

A funeral sermon’s preach’d, the bells did ring, 

And treble vollicshis praises sing. 

Lieutenant Dalton was his faithful friend 

Aud counsellor, whate’er he did intend.— Ibid, sec. 10. 

This gallant gentleman was the second of the name of Baker 
who died in the service of the Protestant Interest, in Ulster ; for in 
the year 1575, Sorley Boye Mac Donnel, of Dunluce, ancestor of 
the Earl of Antrim, against whom the gates of Londonderry were 
closed in 1688, after having received great favours from the Crown 
of England, and being by patent, dated at Westminster, on the 14th 
of April, 1573, hononred with the title and p rive leges of a free Deni¬ 
zen of Ireland—assaulted the English garrison at Carrickfergus, with 
a company of Scots, and slew Captain Baker, with his Lieutenant, 
forty soldiers, and some of the inhabitants of the town. He was, 
however, by the courage of the rest, obliged to retreat; and Sir 
Henry Sidney marching to the relief of the torvn, with 600 horse 
and foot,, on the 19th of October, in the above-mentioned year, 
brought him to terms of agreement and submission. 

The persons of the name of Baker, attainted by King James’s 
Parliament on the 7th of May, 1689, were—Henry Baker, Esq. Co. 
of Louth, with time to surrender till 10th of August, same year; 
Charles Baker, county of Waterford ; Francis Baker, merchant, Wa¬ 
terford ; William Baker, gentleman, of the same place. 

Line 5.—“ Ponsonbjy brave” 

William Ponsonby, second son of Sir John Ponsonby, by Elizabeth, 
eldest daughter of Henry, Lord Folliot, of IVtlyriiannon. Sir John 
Ponsonby was horn in the year 1608, and came into Ireland with 
Oliver Cromwell, landing in Dublin on the 17th of August, 1649. 
In this army he was first Colonel, and afterwards Major. He had 
lands assigned to him at this time as a soldier, in the county of Kerry, 
at Stackstown and Crotton, the former of these places had been named 
for Maurice Stack, a brave undertaker in that county, who was basely 
murdered by the contrivance of Honor O’Brien, Lady Lixnaw, sister 
of the Earl of Thomond. This lady invited Stack to dine with her, 
and after dinner desired to speak with him privately in her chamber, 
when she called out to some persons who were in the that h« 


73 


had affronted her; or, which they rushed in with their skeins, and 
p*-.r(I i.im. i !•(» Carl of Thomond was so grieved and incensed 
at th: h •• ,.\ti i act, that he never suffered his sister to come in Ida 
flight afterwards. The next day her husband, Lord Lixnaw, hanged 
Thomas Stack, brother of the sai 1 Maurice, whom he had kept pri¬ 
soner a long time before. From this ancient English family descended 
the Irish family bearing the same name, oome of whom have been Fel¬ 
lows of our University. After the reduction of Ireland by the Parlia¬ 
mentary forces, Sir John Ponsonby was appointed one of the Cei mi— 
sioners for taking the depositions of the Protestants concerning the mur¬ 
ders committed by the Irish during the course of the war, and on the 
restoration of Charles II. was nominated a Commissioner for executing 
the King’s Declaration of the 30lh of November, 1600, for the set¬ 
tlement of Ireland, on which occasion he obtained two grants of land 
under the act of Settlement, and hy an abatement of quit reals, ob¬ 
tained 15(h July, 1679, and by acquiring many debentures, he left 
a considerable estate to his eldest son, Sir Henry, who dying without 
issue in the reign of King William, was succeeded by his brother, the 
above-mentioned Sir William, who, in reward for his own and his fa¬ 
ther’s eminent services in the cause of the Protestant Religion, was, 
hy patent, on the 11th of September, 1721, created Baron of Bess- 
borough, and afterwards on the 28th of February, 1722, raised to the 
dignity of Viscount Duncannon. The following preamble to the first 
of these patents, marks, in the strongest terms, that the honours of this 
noble family were granted in reward for their faithful maintenance of 
the cause of the English and Protestant Interest in Ireland:— 

“ Cum generis antiquit as, animi fortitudo, consiliumat que interne - 
rata f.dcs honi et aqui Principis dcvincant, usque dilectum et per - 
fidelem subditum nostrum Gulielmum Ponsonby armigerum. lubens 
ornamentum perspexerimus, quippe qui gente clarus , ex atavis nempe 
apud Picardos in Gallia oriundus, a Normanica debellaiione in Britan- 
niam translatis ibique in Cumbrian Comitaluper cot secula considentibuSy 
inde Pater cum abhinc octaginta fere annos in Hiberniam, periclii an¬ 
tibus admodum Protestantitum rebus , Papistarum defection e, ac 
Tie far io gladio transmigrasset, Hints eum in re militarifacinora non 
solum ad cohortis prcefecti Sf equitis gradum prom overint, sed alice 
animi dotes, regni proceribus compluribus cjfinilate dignum qui jun - 
retur reddiderint. 

“ Nee Patre minor prasens fdias, qui eadem prreditus indole , a 
prima juvenfute patrire libertatis et imperii juris se vindicem usque 
preebuit; mature ac diu castra secutus, labentem Hibernia regni 
rem in Londcnderrica Obsidjone pertinaciier suslentavit , to- 
tumque ejus belli curriculum, absolvit, idem ad cohortis prafectnram 
evectus: et cum a militia vacant , Senator, quotiescunquc hahita 
sunt comitia, elcctus, causam reipublicce, Cultus Djvini ex Pro- 
testantium Ritu, necnon successionis nostra, extremo quo ver- 
satus est discrimine, strenue ac constanicr cgit , cijus exemphtm 
Notatu Dignum ex natis nepotibusque sex sunt uno tempore inti* 
tali. Ne ergo," 8$c. tjc. fyc. 


79 


Line 6.—“ Sinclair ” 

The Rev. John Sinclair, of Holyhill, Rector of the parish of Leck- 
patrick and Camus on the Morne, in the county of Tyrone, and of 
Aghanuneion, in the county of Donegal. He was son of the Rev. 
James Sinclair, Rector of the same parish, who was the second son 
of Sir James Sinclair, of Caithness, and married Anne, daughter of 
James Galbraith, Esq. Member of Parliament for the borough of St. 
Johnston, in the county of Donegal, in 1661. Anne, daughter of the 
latter, was married to Robert Lowry, of Alienis, Esq., in the county 
of Tyrone, great-grandfather of the present Earl , of P>elmore. On the 
21st of March, 1G88, Mr. Sinclair was one of those who, with the 
Governor and Sheriffs of Londonderry, signed a declaration of union, 
contradicting a report that lie, with Lord Elaney, Sir Arthur Raw- 
don, Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell, and others, had resolved to take 
protections from the Irish, and desert the general service for the de¬ 
fence of the Protestant Interest. His Church was burned by the 
army of King James on their retreat from Derry, and it was only by 
the timely arrival of a messenger, who had swam across die Foyle 
with a protection, that Holyhill house escaped a similar fate. The 
following inscription is still legible on the monument erected to the 
memory of this gentlsman, which was removed a few years ago from 
the old to the new Church of Leckpatrick, where it has been built 
into the wall above the family pew:— 

“Sacra memories Johannis Sinclair. 

Itevei'endi, nuper Ecclesia hvjus Hector 
Dicat Anna ejus vidua e dovio Galbraithenss 
Chiunda 

Siste Lector, vide, et dejle exuvias infra 
Conditas, nulli non Jlebilis viro 
Parentibus non obscuris natus est, eruditus 
Bene, moratus egregie 
Quern honestas et inculpata fides 
Judicium et prudenlia longis enata rebus 
Lrga Dkum pietas erga homines benevolentia , ad 
Amicos amor plusquam fraternus, 

In pauperes charitas, in familiares consilium 
In omnes humanitas et hospitium . 

Quem denique fdem christiunam et orthodoxam 
Propaganda studium schismaticos quoscunque 
Supprimendi ardor inveniet parem ? 

(Absit invidia dictis) 

Quadraginta prope annos in castris Christi militant 
Et meruit, tarn exemplo, tarn documenlis 
Gregis pa cendi studiosissimus etiam cum vita 
Discrimine grussante et in valente liostium rubie 
] S T on alieni appetens, non sui profusus, dives agris 
Dilior gratia , e vivis migravit, mcestos amicos 
Mastiorem prolem, mastissimam omnium 
Conjugem relinquens. 

Anno astatis sua 62 et 15 Martia AEra Christiana 1702 
prolem habet hie sepultam Elizabetham, EzeHelem, Jehannem 
GuUth%um Amain Dluabdhm t Andrsam a Rfbeesam*” 


BO 


Ibid .—Saunders on." 

Alexander and Archibald Saundarson were two of those who signed 
the Ad Less to King William and Queen Mary, at Londonderry, on 
the 29th of July, 1689. 

a SaunPerson of Tillyhgan, in Tyrone, 

With bravery great reputation won.” 

Armagh MSS. 

lie signalized himself in the battle at Elah. 

Line 7.—“ Horace Kennedy" 

One of the Sheriffs during the Siege. He afterwards served in the 
same office in 1098, but not being approved of by the Government, 
Alderman Brookes was chosen in his place; and he also not being 
allowed, a third election made choice of Alderman Squire, in the 
year 1703, Kennedy, then an Alderman, was elected Mayor of 
Londonderry, and Alexander Skipton and Joseph Davey, Sheriffs ; 
hut the Mayor not being approved of, Alderman Mackie was chosen 
in his place; he also being disapproved of, Alderman Cowan wa* 
elected and also laid aside, and Samuel Leeson succeeded. 

Horace Kennedy was a leading man in Londonderry during the 
Siege, and is thus mentioned in the Armagh Manuscript:— 

“ Horace Kennedy went into Scotland, 

And mov’d the Council some relief to send.” 

Lib. ii. See. 5. 

He was the ancestor of the late Rev. J. Pitt Kennedy, and of 
Conolly Skipton, Esq. 

Ibid.— “ Ash." 

Captain Thomas Ash, who wrote a Journal of the Siege, published 
by h is grand-daughter in Londonderry in the year 1792. By some 
observations annexed to his detail of the particulars of the Siege, we 
find that the first Market-house built in Londonderry was in 1622, 
which figures he saw on the side of it opposite to the Ferryquay gate, 
when he was at school there in 1671. It was demolished by bombs 
during the Siege, and rebuilt on a larger scale in April, 1692—Bishop 
King and Alderman Lecky laying the first stone—Francis Neville, 
Esq. Architect. The Magazine was in his time called O’Dogherty’s 
castle, and there was no record of the time when it was erected—lie 
says it was thought at that time to he two or three hundred years built. 
The gaol over Ferryquay-gate was built in 1676. Before that it was 
in Butcher’s-street, at the corner of the Diamond. Upwards of 500 
persons subscribed to Miss Ash's publication of lie*' ancestor's Journal. 

Ibid.— “ Vaughan." 

« The Vaughans likewise brought forth of their own, 

Some independent troops from Innishowen.” 

I am favoured with the following note on this name, by the Rev. 
George Vaughan Sampson, author of the Survey of Londonderry* 


81 


and the Memoirs annexed fo Ins map of that County* “ The English 

4 • * 4 w 

settlers in the niv escheated counties of Ulster, may be distinguished 
under two general classes, viz.:—those who and red iti the latter end 
of Queen Elizabeth's reign, after the suppression of O’Donnel’s rebel¬ 
lion, and those who came over in the reign of James I. The former 
were almost all of English descent, and the latter for the greater part 
Scottish. The chief families of the former class, were the Gores, 
Wrays, Sampsons* Brookes, and Harts. Fynes Mory- * 
son mentions the three latter families as having brought over 
each one hundred halberdiers at their own expense, and their .settle¬ 
ments were chiefly in the county of Donegal. Of these families one 
only appears to have been remarkably concerned in the early transac¬ 
tions of the City of Londonderry, namely, that of Hart. The go¬ 
vernment of Culm ore Fort was entrusted by Elizabeth’s deputy to an 
officer of this family, whose history is sufficiently known. The others, 
tho’ military men, were engaged in the protection of their respective 
settlements. 

In 1613, Sir John Vaughan, a military Engineer, of Welsh ex¬ 
traction, was sent to fortify the intended City of Londonderry. He 
had completed both the Walls and the Cathedral Church in the year 
1615, and was afterwards made Governor of the City. The rebel- 
lion of O'Dougherty having given great alarm, a proclamation was 
issued in the latter end of Elizabeth's feign, according to which, any 
of the Queen’s Generals who should bring the bead of O’Dougherty 
to the Castle of Dublin, would be allowed to pass patent for his estate. 
In consequence of this proclamation, Vaughan engaged and defeated 
O'Douglierty near his residence at Elagb, and pursued him to another 
of his Castles at Buncranagh, which be invested so closely that 
O’Dougherty found it impossible to escape ; but rather than surrender, 
preferred to die by hunger. Upon bis death bis followers gave up the 
Castle, in one of the lower apartments of which the body of the Chief- 
tan was discovered, sitting on a stone lifeless. This transaction gave 
occasion to the representation of the skeleton, as it was afterwards 
adopted for the arms of the City. Vaughan made all*'possible 
haste to bring the bead of O’Dougherty to Dublin, that lie might avail 
himself of the Queen’s proclamation ; but notwithstanding bis dispatch, 
the Lord Deputv, Chichester, received intelligence of his coining, 
and having met him at the town of Swords, ordered him hack to his 
Government, under pretence of a new insurrection in the North, at 
the same time promising that the requisite should he done, pursuant 
to the tenor of the proclamation. The Lord Deputy on his return to 
the Castle of Dublin, took care to affix the bead of O’Dougherty 
over the gate, and immediately wrote to the Queen, claiming, in bis 
own name, the performance of her Majesty’s most gracious promise, 
and having great interest at Court, obtained the patent for the forfeit¬ 
ed estates with such dispatch as precluded any remonstrance on the 
part of Vaughan. A long discussion and a personal quarrel being like¬ 
ly to ensue, it was compromised, by a grant to Vaughan of a lurge pry.- 

L 


portion of the barony of Innishowen, which Chichester made over to 
him, free of rent, for 99 years, upon which the present Castle of Bun- 
cranagh was erected, on the seite of O’Dougherty’s fortress.” Before I 
proceed farther in Mr. Sampson’s account of the Vaughans, I think it 
due to the memory of Sir Arthur Chichester, and to historical fidelity 
to observe, of this account of the death of Sir Cahir O’Doug! erty, and 
of the grant of his forfeited lands, that, like Captain Ash’s detail of these 
transactions, it is unsupported by the public history of the country, 
and rests upon the vague authority of oral or unprinted tradition. It 
is to be observed also, that Sir Arthur Chichester inarched from Dub¬ 
lin to subdue O’Dougherty, on the 5th of July, 1608, and found that 
Marshal Wingfield had subdued that sanguinary rebel, and shut him 
up between two walls, where he perished for want of food ; and ac¬ 
cording to the foregoing account, it was in five years afterwards that 
Sir John Vaughan was sent into Ireland from Wales—so that he could 
not have been engaged with Sir Cahir O’Dougherty, who perished in 
the reign of James, not of Elizabeth. The character of the Lord De¬ 
puty Chichester stood far above the reach ef any imputation of in ; us- 
tice, and is thus sketched in the inscription on his tomb in the Church' 

of Carrickfergus:— 

u Within this bed of death a Viceroy lies. 

Whose fame shall ever live-—virtue ne’er dies j 
For he did Virtue and Religion nourish, 

And made this province rude, with peace to flourish. 

The lewdest rebel he by power did tame, 

And by true justice gain’d an honour’d name. 

Then now, tho’ he in Heaven with Angels be, 

Lotus on earth still love his memory. 

It appears too, by the following inscription on the wall of the Ca¬ 
thedral of Londonderry, that it was not for five-and-twenty years after 
the death of Sir Caber O’Dougherty that Sir John Vaughan finished 
the building of that Church. 

“A. D. 1633. 

“ SIR JOHN VAUGHAN, ARCHITECT. 

“ If stones could speak, then London’s praise would sound. 

Which built this Church and Citie from the ground. 

Sir Richard Wingfield was the only person who could claim 0 ? - 
Dougherty’s estate, on the grounds of having subdued him, and ob¬ 
tained possession of his head; and it appears that this service, as well 
as his having taken Sir Neill O’Donnell prisoner in the rebels’ camp 
at Raplioe, on the 14th of June, 1608, were rewarded on the ‘29th 
of June, in the succeeding year, by a grant of the lands of Powers- 
court, containing five miles in length and four in breadth, from which 
property his descendant, Lord Powerscourt, takes his title. Also on 
the 3d of December, 1610, he had a grant of the Castle and lands of 
Benburb, in the county of Tyrone, containing 200 acres, and also of 
other lands in the county of Wexford. After he had seized O’Donnel 
at Raphoe, he conveyed him on board a King’s ship, then lying in 
the harbour of Derry, and sent him round to Dublin; and he after- 


8 




wards took Castledoe before lie fouglit the battle in which Lodg* 
alleges that be slew O’Dogherty. See the Povoerscourt Patent and 
Lodge's Peerage , Volume II. page 358. 

I now pi oceed with the remainder of Mr. Sampson’s note. “ George 
Vaughan, third in descent from Sir John Vaughan, was Governor of 
the county of Donegal, and lived in the Castle of Buncranagh. He 
had large estates in the counties of Donegal and Fermanagh, and wa^ 
married to Miss Alice, daughter of Sir Thomas Fortescue, of Dru- 
misken, in the county of Louth, (a great sufferer in 1689 ,) by whom 
he had issue one daughter, who (lied young. He had four sisters, 
the eldest of whom was married to Colonel Wra. Sampson, the second, 
to Mr. Brooke, and the third io Mr. Hart; the fourth died unmarried. 

I find, in one of the family papers, mention is made of an incident, 
which, however trifling in itself, caused a serious breach between the 
families of Vaughan and Sampson. One evening after dinner, Vaughan 
having boasted rather proudly of the achievements of his family, which 
Sampson considered as greatly inferior to his own one of old English 
descent. What, said he, are you at the best but the descendant of a 
"Welsh architect ? This repartee was never forgiven by the Vaughans 
till the family of Sampson were excluded from any share of the inhe¬ 
ritance, except in the instance of the Colonel’s daughter, Mary, to 
whom he left his valuable leasehold of Porthall, which she enjoyed 
for 32 years, having bequeathed it to the Ilev. Arthur Sampson, her 
nephew ; but he dying before her, the legacy lapsed, and this, to¬ 
gether with other valuable estates, devolved to the representatives of 
the two younger married sisters of Vaughan, as residuaries under his 
will. This will contained bequests to a great amount for charitable 
uses, one of which was for the endowment of a Charter School in the 
county of Fermanagh, and the other was that of a large estate, which 
lie had purposely purchased in North Carolina, for endowing Mis¬ 
sionaries to convert the Indians to Christianity. But in this latter 
case his benevolent intentions were not carried into execution. Mr. 
Vaughan was distinguished through life as an enterprising improver: 
he built the town of Buncranagh, and there erected the first bleach- 
green and machinery which existed in his native county. He also 
erected Salt-pans at Porthall, after having built on that place an 
handsome dwelling-house, several villages, and numerous offices of 
almost every useful description. He lived with hospitality, approach¬ 
ing to a princely display, and finally he died at Porthall, whence his 
corpse was brought to Londonderry, where it hay in state for three 
days and nights, after which it was conveyed to the family burying- 
ground in the Old Church of Fahan, on the north side of the chancel. 
The name is extinct, and there is no monument over the tomb.” 

Sir John Vaughan was one of the executors of the will of Sir Rich¬ 
ard Hansard, of Lifford, which was made on the 6th of September, 
1619, and by his care, and that of his fellow-executor, Thomas 
Perkins, Esq. the Church and School-house of Lifford were .afterwards 
•reeled, according to the provisions of that will, although it was dis- 


pitted and sot. aside by the surviving brother of the testator, with 
xvhom they made an amicable settlement, by the payment of sixteen 
hundred pounds. Sir Frederick Hamilton, ancestor or Lord d is¬ 
count Boyne, married Sidney, daughter of Sir John Vaughan, 
whose lady was daughter to the Earl of Leicester. 

In 10-13, Sir James Vaughan, Governor of Londonderry and Gul¬ 
in ore Fort, died, and was succeeded in both these situations by Sir 
Robert Stewart, who had been Captain of Culmore Fort, and Re¬ 
presentative of tiie City of Londonderry in Parliament. 1’rands, son 
of George Cary, of Redcastle, who died on the 23d of April, 1610, 
married Alice, daughter of Captain Henry Vaughan. 

Stanza XXIII.— Line 1.—“ JJcrwson A 

Walter Dawson was one of those who signed a public declaration 
on the 13th April, 1089, that they would appear ami fight for their 
Country and Religion on the fittest ground between Lifford and Ciau- 
dy Ford. The Gentlemen of this name attainted by King James’s 
Parliament were, according to Archbishop King’s list of them—John. 
Dawson, Gentleman, Monaghan ; John Dawson, Gentleman, Lon¬ 
donderry ; Isaac Dawson, Gentleman, Monaghan ; Launcelot Daw¬ 
son, Gentleman, do.; Richard Dawson, Esq. Louth ; Captain Rich¬ 
ard Dawson, Monaghan; Walter Dawson, senr. Esq. Londonderry; 
Walter Dawson, jmir. Gentleman, do.; Captain Walter Dawson, 
Monaghan ; William Dawson, Esq. do. I am unable to ascertain 
which of these Gentlemen was the defender of Londonderry, record¬ 
ed in the Stanza. Joshua Dawson, Esq. the proprietor of the Cas- 
tledawsonEstate, and ancestor of George Robert Dawson, the present 
worthy Representative of this Protestant County in Parliament, was 
at that time a very young man. His eldest daughter was married to 
Major-General Gustavus Hamilton, Baron Hamilton, of Stcckallan, 
in the year j 722. 

“ Campsie .” 

John Campsie was Mayor of Londonderry, in 1688, until the 12th 
cf October, when he was displaced to make way for Connick O’Neill, 
of Broughshane. Henry Campsie was one of the Prentice Boys who 
shut the Gates against the Earl of Antrim’s regiment—he was wound¬ 
ed by one L'inegar, a reputed Papist, when endeavouring, w ith others, 
to secure the magazine, w hich circumstance encreased both the num¬ 
ber and resolution of the Protestant mob on that occasion.—8ee Mac¬ 
kenzie’s Narrative, page 8. 

Line 2—“ Albert Hall ” 

r I his distinguished defender of Londonderry, was the ancestor of 
John Chambers, Esq. of the Cassino, and of Hall Chambers, Esq. of 
Dublin. lie died on the 28th of April, 1701, aged 48 years, and is 
buried in the Cathedral Church-yard cf this City, where a handsome 


35 


monument lias been crecteil over his grave. He was one of those 
who signed the address to King William and Queen Mary, sent from 
Londonderry by Governor Walker, on the 29 th of July, 1G89. 

“ Barry," 

John Barry was one of eighteen who set forward a resolution ia 
Derry, on the 13th of April, 1689, to assemble and fight for their 
liberties, at Claudy l ord, Lifford, and tlie Long Causeway. 

The Protestants of this name attainted by King James’s Parliament 
were—Richard Barry Lord Santry, of the County of Dublin ; Lau¬ 
rence Barry, commonly called Lord Buttevant, and Richard Barry, 
Gentleman, all of the same County. 

3.—“ CrooJcshanJc” 


Line 


of 


The family of Crookshank was of high respectability in the City 
Londonderry. William Crookshank was one of the Sheriffs in 
1692, and John Crookshank an Alderman in 1704. 

The defender of Londonderry, of this name, is thus mentioned ia 
the Armagh Mss.—Lib. 11.—sec. 14 :— 

“ lieutenant Crookshank dismounts from our walls, 

Th’ enemies cannon, &c. &c. &c.” 

“ Upton" 

Arthur Upton was one of the twenty-three persons who, dn the 
10th of April, 1689, signed a resolution to stand by each other with 
their forces against the common enemy, and not to leave the Kingdom 
or desert the public service, until their affairs should be settled in a 
secure posture. 

The family of Upton is of great antiquity in Comwal, where Ha¬ 
mel yn Upton was seated in 1213. Henry, second son of Arthur Un¬ 
ton, of L' Upton , in Devonshire, came into Ireland in 1598, as a 
Captain in the Army under.the command of the Earl of Essex, and 
having established himself in the County of Antrim, was chosen 
Member of Parliament for the town of Carriekfergus. Fie married 
Mary, daughter of Sir Hugh Clotworthy, Kt. by whom he had three 
daughters and four sons, of whom the eldest, Arthur, of Castle Up- 
ion, was born 30th of May, 1653. His principles respecting Civil 
Government were loyal and respectful to the Royal Family. When 
lie was summoned by the Commissioners to Carriekfergus, during ti e 
exile of Charles II. to take the oath of fidelity to the Commonwealth 
of England, without King or House of Lords, he, though a Dissen¬ 
ter, positively refused, for which, and other non-compliances with 
the course of these times, lie was to have been transported to so.n© 
distant part of Ireland, but Oliver Cromwell speedily assumed :e 
title of Protector, to the utter confusion of the Commission on. and 
to the advantage of Mr. Upton, whom the new Govern men. do -t 
fit to be a Magistrate, and the County of Antrim return ju him to 
Parliament for a aeries of forty years. 


He lived under divers revolutions, both cf Civil and Church Go* 
▼eminent, and was consistent in hie conduct; and being appointed to 
defend the County of Antrim at the rebellion of 1641, he so effec¬ 
tually discharged his trust, as to repel and rout the rebels. He mar¬ 
ried Dorothy, daughter of Michael Beresford, of Coleraine, in the- 
County of Derry, Esq. and' by her had eight sons and ten daughters. 
His third son, Arthur, born October 26, 1658, who was a Captain 
of foot, and is the person here mentioned—after serving during 
the siege of Londonderry, was killed at the battle of Aughrim, and 
died unmarried. Thomas, the eighth son, born August 4, 1677, 
was bred a Lawyer, and served as Recorder of Londonderry, which 
City he represented in Parliament till his death. By his wife Sarah, 
daughter of Hugh Rowley, Esq. of Tubermore, in the County of 
Londonderry, he had one daughter, who married Thomas Tennison, 
Esq. second Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in Ireland. 

Clotworth Upton, the fourth son, was born the 6th of January, 
1685, and succeeded his father as Representative of the County of 
Antrim. At the siege of Limerick he raised a party of men, joined 
the army of King William before that town, attacked the breach, en¬ 
tered it singly, sword in hand, and most of his men being cut off, he 
mixed with the enemy and remained undiscovered till the affair was 
over, when he surrendered himself a prisoner to the commanding 
officer, with whom he had been formerly acquainted. 

John Upton, sixth son, born 19th of April, 1671, was a Captain 
in King William’s aimy, and assisted at the storming of the Citadel 
of Liege, and was wounded when Lieutenant-Colonel of Dragoons, 
at the battle of Almanza, under Lord Galway, who, for his spirited 
conduct on that day, gave him the command of the regiment, the 
Colonel (Killigrew) having been killed at the beginning of the action; 
be was afterwards Colonel by brevet, and was twice Representative 
of the County of Antrim. His grand-son, Clotworthy Upton, was 
advanced to the Peerage of Ireland, by patent, at Dublin, in 1776, 
by the title of Lord Baron of Templetown, in the County of Antrim. 

Line 5 — Gervais Squire .” 

This was a leading man among the heroes who defended Derry on 
this memorable occasion, as will appear from the Diary. He served 
as Mayor in 1691, and died on the 7th of January, 1694, leaving a 
considerable property. His descendant and representative, now a 
minor, resides near Manor-Cunningham, in the County of Donegal. 

Alderman Squire is thus noticed in the Armagh Mss’. ;— 

“ And Gervais Squire with all his might assists 
In Council, and our troops with stores subsists.” 

Lih. ii. — See. 5. 

The Gentlemen of this name who were attainted by King James’s 
Parliament were these—Captain Gervais Squire, of Donegal, or 


87 


Londonderry, and Thomas Squire, junr. of Limerick, Gentleman.—- 
William Squire, Alderman of Londonderry, died on the 1st of Fe¬ 
bruary, 1692. 

Line 6.—“ James Curry” 

This Gentleman was ancestor of the respectable family of the same 
name resident in Londonderry, and also of Sir Henry Torrens, K. 
C. 13., Mr. Sergeant Torrens, and the venerable Archdeacon of Dub¬ 
lin. He was a leading man in Derry during the siege, and was th® 
sixth of the thirty-six Gentlemen who signed a declaration of Union 
there on the 2Istof March, 1688.— Sec Walkers Diary , page 42. 

Line 7.—“ Adams of Strabane*” 

tl Watson’s made master of th* Artillery, 

Two hundred gunners and montrosscs be ; 

James Murray was conductor to the train j 
Our Engineer was Adams of Strabane.” 

Armagh Mss. — Lib. ii. — See. 10. 

Stanza XXIV—Line 1.—“ Lenox and Lecky.” 

“ Lenox and Lecky who are Aldermen, 

For speedy succours went into Scotland ; 

Out of their stores our army clothes receiv’d ; 

Thus ail the Aldermen themselves behav’d.” 

Armagh Mss.— Lib. ii. — See. 6 . 

Alderman James Lenox, Mayor of Londonderry, and Represen¬ 
tative of that City in Parliament, died on the 4th of August, 1723, 
aged 71 years. Alderman Alexander Lecky died in the year 1718. 

Line 5.—“ Conyngham ” 

There were three families of this name in Londonderry during the 
aiege_the heads of them were distinguished from each other by pa¬ 

tronymics, according to the Scottish custom, viz.:—Alderman Jack, 
Jew Jack, and Merchant Jack—from the former of these are de¬ 
scended Conyngham M‘Alpin, of Dublin, Esq., the late Mr. Co¬ 
nyngham M‘Crae, of Lifford, the Balls of Shannon, and the Sproules, 
lately resident in Strabane. Alexander Cunningham, one of the 
Prentice Boys who shut the Gates, was the great grand-father of Mr. 
Richard Cunningham, of Castle-Cooley, near Burt Church, in the 
County of Donegal. James, John, and Michael Cunningham, were 
among those who signed the address to King William and Queen 
Mary? on the 29th of July, 1689. Alexander Cunningham was 
Ensign in Captain John Tomkins’s Company of foot, of which James 
Spaight was Lieutenant. 

“ Brooked 

i < • » 

Brooke or Brooks, a Merchant, of whom the Armagh Mss. thus 
makes mention in the catalogue of th® contributors toward® holding 
•ut the City against James« 


l< James Roo Cunningham and Master B rooks. 

Gave great supplies as are seen by their books, 

Ewin and Wilson, Merchants, gave the same. 

And forty Merchants whom I cannot name. 

Harvey a tanner, was a leading man, 

And John his son, now their Chamberlain. 

The same and Curlew did attend the store, 

Providing portions both to rich and poor. 

Alderman Craig with stores assists the town. 

Preaching obedience to the English Crown. 

Cocken an Alderman, in Council sat, 

He did the Church and State both regulate. 

Alderman Hobson with stores of provision, 

Supplied the forces of our garrison. 

The Burgesses and Freemen gave their aid. 

And for their loyalty have nobly paid, 

Eady a Merchant was at vast expend?. 

In stores and money for the town’s defence.. 

Morrison and Shannon Apothecaries, 

Were at a vast cxpence for remedies. 

Master Mackay and Evans did assist, 

And with their substance did our troops subsist. 

Then Master Mogridge, Clerk of the Crown 
With stores and council did assist the town. 

Captain Moncrief rais’d a company, 

And Captain Morrison fought the enemv. 

Thus all the town were at a vast ex pence, 

In stores and money for the town’s defence. 

The county likewise gave a helping hand, 

And with their forces di'J the foe withstand. 

Armagh Mss. — Lib. n.—SfC. 

I have taken this opportunity to give greater publicity to the above- 
mentioned names, which are too numerous to be inserted in the text, 
Homer’s catalogue of ships is not a greater curiosity than this old 
poem, and there cannot be a much greater literary desideratum than 
the recovery of eight pages of it which had been lost. Alderman 
James Ilopson died outlie 30tli of July, 1697. 

Line 6.—“ Major Philips.” 

Old Major Philips, a Chief in forty-one* 

In’s ninetieth year into the city came, 

Endur’d the siege, and with sound councils taught. 

Our brave commanders, who the enemy fought.” 

For this gallant veteran’s services during the siege, I must refer to 
the Diary—he was, however, distinguished highly for Ids patriarchal 
©are of the Protestant Colonics in Ulster, for half a centurv before. 
He was the author of the celebrated letter to King Charles I. in 1634 , 
complaining of the London Companies’ breach of charter in replant¬ 
ing the Irish Papists in place of the English and Scotch Protestants 
who had been settled on their lands. He foretold the consequence* 
of tills line of policy, with as little effect as Dr. Duigenan, Sir Rich¬ 
ard Musgrave, and others, have forewarned the British Government 


89 


of the inevitable result of similar arrangements for the last forty years. 
The rebellion and massacre of Kill, but too fully verified Major 
Philips’s letter within eight years after it had been written. Ilis re¬ 
sidence and estate were at Newtown-Limavady, in the County of 
Londonderry. He was, of course, attainted by the pretended Par¬ 
liament on the 7th of May, 1689, as were also his sons, Captain 
Thomas Phillips, Captain Christopher Phillips, of Limerick, Captain 
John Phillips, of Westmeath, Edward Phillips, Gentleman, of Cork, 
and Richard Philips, Gentleman, of Mayo. 

Line 7.—“ Captain Godfrey from Coleraine 

(( Next him brave Captain Godfrey from Coleraine, 

Into the City with a comp’ny came.” 

Armagh Mss* 

Captain Warren Godfrey, a distinguished officer, was one of those 
who, on the 29th of July, 1689, signed the address to King Wil¬ 
liam and Queen Mary. He appears to have escaped an attainder 
from King James’s Parliament, but Sankey and William Godfrey, of 
Tipperary, ancestors of the family of Ledger, were attainted, and also 
William Godfrey, Esq. of Donegal. 

Line 8.— u J emmet .” 

Captain Warham Jemmet, Collector of Londonderry. 

“ Brave Jcmmet the Collector of the town, 

For its defence spent great stores of his own.” 

Armagh Mss. — Lib. ii.~~.Sec. 5. 

These contributions, together with the destruction of houses, mer¬ 
chandize, and other property, during the siege, together with the 
expenditure in raising and equipping troops for the defence of the 
City, impoverished the inhabitants of it to such a degree, as reflect¬ 
ed great discredit on the ruling Powers of the day, who were in vain 
petitioned by the Corporation for a reparation of their losses. Their 
petition stated their early and singular services and sufferings in the 
Revolution_the demolition of the greater part of the City and sub¬ 
urbs_their disbursements in fortifying, providing arms and ammuni¬ 

tion, raising and subsisting forces—and that after eight years’ suffer¬ 
ings and remonstrance, they then remained a poor ruinous spectacle 
to all, a scorn to their enemies, and a discouragement to his Majesty’s 
well-affected subjects. 

The House of Commons, on receiving this petition, and referring 
it to a committee, resolved that the allegations contained in it were 
true—that the public losses, disbursements, and damages sustained 
by tl le inhabitants of Londonderry, were moderately computed in 
it ; that the losses, besides, to private and particular persons, were 
very great, and that the governor and garrison, who, thro’ the utmost; 
sufferings and extremities, defended the place, did likewise deserve 

M 


90 


to have so signal a service taken into consideration ; and the §ahi 
City, which had so eminently suffered, to have some special mark of 
his Majesty’s favour, for a lasting monument to posterity. Ail this 
the Commons afterwards, on the 28th of June, 1697, represented 
to the King by an address, praying that his Majesty would be pleas¬ 
ed to make some compensation to the said City, governor and garri¬ 
son, by such ways and means, and in such a manner as his Majesty, 
in his princely wisdom, should think fit. The King replied, that he 
would take these things into his consideration, according to the desire 
of his faithful Commons—but nothing was then done—the debt re¬ 
mains unpaid—and the families of the contributors of their property 
and blood to the cause of their country, were left to suffer in want 
and obscurity, in a ruined City, with annihilated trade.— See Don - 
glass's Collection of Documents , entitled Derriana—page 176. 

Stanza XXV. —Line 1.—“ Parltcr from Coleraine.” 

This officer commanded the Coleraine regiment, consisting of 
twelve companies of foot. He behaved very ill at the battle of Elagb, 
and deserted to the enemy on the night of the 25th of April, to 
avoid the consequences of a Court Martial with which he was threat¬ 
ened. He was succeeded in his command by Colonel Thos. Lance, 
of Coleraine, whose conduct through the whole of the siege was 
highly commendable, and who died in Londonderry, and was buried 
there on the lltli of September, 1689, about which time, it appears, 
that a considerable number of the leading men of the City, during the 
siege, were carried off by the effects of disease and long continued 
fatigue. 

The Armagh Mss. thus mentions Parker’s misconduct :—- 
“ Colonel Parker s oversight.” 

< £ When we marched forth we carefully had sent 
Most of our horse and foot, a regiment, 

T’ observe the camp by Gen’ral Ramsay kept. 

Lest they our marching home should intercept. 

But Col’nel Parker, for some grand design, 

Had them commanded off before that time. 

Then Ramsay boldly with his foot and horse. 

Came quickly up to intercept our force. 

This great surprise did all our spirits damp. 

Fearing our men were slain by t’other camp. 

But Col’nel Murray and brave Aubery 
Oppos’d the same and forc’d them back to fly. 

Till all our men got safely into town, 

In which brisk action they gain’d great renown. 

Baker and Hatnmel brought forth a great gun. 

Strengthen’d by Lieutenant Col’nel Wigtonj 
But their assistance came to us too late, 

For Ramsay’s firing forc’d us to retreat. 

But Col’nel Parker for some policy, 

Fled the same night unto the enemy. 

His Coleraine regiment Col’nel Lance obtains, 

Whe in the present service honour gains,”— Lib. iii.-Sec. 3, 



01 


Like 2_ “ From Garnish brave George Canning? 

o 

This gallant Gentleman brought a regiment raised upon his own es¬ 
tate for the defence of Londonderry. The family name was some¬ 
times spelled and pronounced Kenny, and therefore he is thus no¬ 
ticed in the Armagh Mss.:—- 

“ From Garvagh Kenney sent a regiment.— Lib. i. — See. 16. 

This Gentleman was the ancestor of Lord Garvagh, and of tha 
Right Hon. George Canning, one of his Majesty’s Ministers, dispos¬ 
ed to grant a degree of political power to Papists, which those ac¬ 
quainted with the past and present state of Ireland, consider to be 
extremely dangerous to the English Interest and Protestant Relegioa 
in this Island. 

Line 7.-— “For his Fathers toxun had been burnt d dotim” 

Sir Richard Cox, in his Hibernia Anglicana , Vol. ii. page 90, 
gives the following sad account of the sufferings of the Protestant 
towns in the County of Londonderry, at the very beginning of the 
rebellion and massacre of 1641 :— 

“ The Province of Ulster began about this time to be sadly dis¬ 
tressed for want of provisions, insomuch, that when Sir John Clot¬ 
worthy advanced from Antrim by the way of Toome, through tho 
Barony of Loughinshollen, in the County of Londonderry, he found 
the Irish under so great a pressure of famine, that they ate their own 
dead. The rebels of this Barony, as they were amongst the first 
sufferers by the effects of this dreadful rebellion and massacre, so had 
they been perhaps the earliest, if not the most violent of those who 
engaged in it. On the fatal twenty-third of October, Cormack 
O’Hagan surprised the strong Castle of Moneymore, belonging to 
the Company of Drapers in London, upon which Mr. William Row- 
ley who had been an active man in repressing the Irish, posted off to 
Coleraine, where he brought the first notice of the insurrection, about 
eight o’clock on Sunday morning, the 24th of October, which was 
soon after confirmed by multitudes of pillaged people, who flocked 
into the town that day. The towns of Desertmaiitin, Maghe- 
jra, Vintnerstown, ( Bellaghy ,) Deaperstown, (Moneymore,) 
and Magherafelt, were burned at this time, as Mr. Hugh Rowley 
afterwards informed Sir Richard Cox. Colonel Edward Rowley hav¬ 
ing, on the first alarm, raised a regiment of foot and a troop r f horse, 
and Colonel Cozens a regiment of foot in the town of Coleraine, 
the former marched into the country, and for some time kept an open 
village, called Garvagh, but at length the Irish, to a very great 
number, whereof many were Colonel Rowley’s own tenants, fell up¬ 
on him, and killed all bis men but eighty, and barbarously murdered 
himself, after they had given him quarter. They then burned and 
plundered the whole country to the gates of Coleraine.” 

The following traditionary account of the fate of Colonel Cau« 


92 


nings father, on this melancholy occasion, has been given to me up¬ 
on the authority of the late Rev. Ralph Mansfield, some time since 
Hector of the Parish of Errigall, whose Church is in the town of 
Garvagh:— 

“ Mr. Canning had, a short time before the breaking out of the 
rebellion, purchased some land on very reasonable terms, from a per¬ 
son of the name of Cane, or O’Calian, whose family was once of great 
consequence in that part of the country, and some person having ex¬ 
pressed surprise that lie should sell it at so low a price, Cane replied, 
that he did so with his eyes open, for he knew he would soon have 
it back again at any rate. On the day of the destruction of Colonel 
Rowley and bis regiment, Mrs. Canning was in an upper room of 
Garvagb-house, and her husband remained below stairs. A pike 
man went up and desired her to walk down stairs—she obeyed, and 
the first object that struck her eye, was Mr. Canning’s head separated 
from his body, and placed on the hall table.” 

Stanza XXVI_ Line 1_“ Alderman Tomkins.” 

The family of Tomkins was of great wealth and consideration at 
Londonderry—in the Cathedral of which there are many monu¬ 
ments of them. They are now represented by Colonel Knox of 
Prehen. 

i( Alderman Tomkins from Tirkceran sent, 

Into the camp a gallant regiment ; 

Which joined Cornel Murray as they ■went.” 

Armagh Mss. 

tl Alderman Tomkins rais’d a troop of horse— Lib 1.— Sec. 16. 
And laid in stores against the Irish force.” 

Ibid.—Lib. ii.~~.Sec. 5. 

“ 1692, May 1st—Alexander Tomkins, Alderman of Londonderry, was 
buried. ’ '—Registry of the Parish of Templemore. 

Line I.— “ Mount Alexander.” 

Hugh Montgomery, second Earl of Mount-Alexander. This No¬ 
bleman was born on the 24th of February, 1650_be was the eldest 

son of Hugh, third Viscount, and first Earl of Mount-Alexander, by 
Mary, eldest sister of the first Earl of Drogheda. Being in London 
in the month of March, 1686, and there evidently perceiving the 
designs of the Crown against the Protestants of Ireland, and foresee¬ 
ing the rupture which must arise between the King and bis people, 
he returned to Ireland, sold a troop of horse which he bad obtained 
from the Earl of Essex, a few years before, aud retired to his seat at 
Mount-Alexander, in the County of Down, resolved to live there 
unconcerned in public affairs. But the intentions of the Roman Ca¬ 
tholics being obvious, by their providing arms, and from a letter, 
dated December, 3d, 'If>88, which was dropped at Comber, directed 
to his Lordship, and conveyed to his hands, advising him to look to 


93 


liis bouse and person, be confederated, (in precisely tbe same manner 
which the Orangemen- did in 1795,) with the Protestants of Ulster 
for their mutual defence, and those of the County of Down chose 
him their General Commander, and Colonel of their regiment of 
horse, in which station he was very active to oppose the army sent 
*nto the North, under the command of Colonels Hamilton and Shel- 
don.^Sce Lodges Peerage, Vol. i.—page 374. 

Lord Mount-Alexander was one of the first of those ten who were 
proscribed and exempted from mercy, or the King’s favour, by Lord 
TyrcoiineH’s Proclamation of the 7th of March, 1689. 

After the Revolution he was called into the Privy Council, ap¬ 
pointed Governor of the County of Down, made Master of the Ord¬ 
nance, and a Brigadier-General. He was three times sworn one of 
the Lords Justices, and died at Mount-Alexander, without issue, on 
the 12tli of February, 1716. 

Francis Mansfield, of Mount-Hall, in the County of Donegal, 
Esq. married Elizabeth, daughter of William Montgomery, Esq. 
of Rosemount in the County of Down, by Elizabeth, eldest daugh¬ 
ter of Archibald Edmunston, Laird of Duntreath, in the County of 
Antrim. Mrs. Mansfield was grand-daughter of Sir James Montgo¬ 
mery, of Ballylesson, who, in the year 1639, was returned Member 
of Parliament for the County of Down, and so signilized himself in 
that assembly, that he was chosen to be one of the Commissioners, 
to go to England and complain to the King of the pressure of the 
Earl of Strafford’s Government. On the breaking out of the rebel¬ 
lion he received a commission to raise a regiment of one thousand 
foot, and a troop of horse, which he raised, armed, and fitted for 
(service at his own expense, and with them protected the Barony of 
Lecalle for fifteen months against the whole power of the Irish rebels. 
His memoirs, in the first volume of Lodge’s Peerage, are very in¬ 
teresting, and would furnish admirable materials for an Historical Ro¬ 
mance, on the plan of Waverly, be. The issue of his grand-daugh¬ 
ter, Mansfield, was a son named Ralph, and a daughter named Anna 
Helena. 

The Armagh Mss. thus mentions Earl Mount-Alexander, and Ed¬ 
munston, Laird of Duntreath, or Duntreth, the latter of whom died 
at Culm ore Fort, on the 14th of April, 1689, in consequence of 
diseases contracted in the trenches at Portglenone, where he had be*- 
jhaved himself with great gallantry and resolution :— 

Thither (to Dromore) my Lord Mount-Alexander’s horse 
And foot advance to join the English force. 

Loth horse and foot, the relicts of Dromore, 

Where they the shock of th* Irish army bore. 

For lie, North Earth a General’s post obtain’d. 

When at Dromore the Irish army gain’d 
The victory. nw 

*• From Ballymcnagh the Lord Duntreth’s men 
Were the next foot that march’d into the plain.”— Lib, itrrwSec, Itf. 


94 


Stanza XXVII. —Line I. 

il From Charlemont came Caulfield's force? 

“ Chichester from Dungannon .” 

Lieutenant-Colonel Toby Caulfield, of the Earl of Drogheda 9 
regiment, was attainted by King James’s pretended Parliament, for 
adhering to King William. He was at the taking of the Castle of 
Carrickfergus, on the 26tli of August, 1689, and was afterwards 
engaged at the siege of Limerick. On the 8th and 10th of January, 
several regiments being incorporated into one another, the Lail ot 
Drogheda’s was one of the number, and Colonel Caulfield was ad¬ 
vanced to the command of a regiment of foot. Colonel John Caul¬ 
field, the brother of the abovementioned Toby, was sealed at lul» 
lydowv, in the County of Tyrone, and also served in the same cause 
with his brother. 

“ From Dungannon brave Chichester was sent, 

With Caulfield the Lord Cbarlemont’s regiment.’* 

Armagh Mss. — Lib. ii.~~*Sec. 16 . 

William Caulfield, second Viscount Charlernont, took up arms in 
defence of his Religion and Country, against the attacks made on 
both by King James II. and during the contest that ensued, not only 
engaged himself, but bis brothers, in the same good cause. He was 
attainted, and had his estate sequestered by the abdicated Prince^. 
but he rose to great rank and consideration as a military officer in 
the ensuing reigns of King William and Queen Anne, and died on 
the 21st of July, 1767, the oldest Nobleman in the British domi¬ 
nions. These officers were the nephews of Toby, third Baron of 
Charlemont, who was surprised and made a prisoner with all his fa¬ 
mily, by Sir Phelim O'Neill, on Friday the 22d of October, 164L 
Sir Phelim went on that day to dine with his Lordship, who received 
and entertained him in a very friendly manner—but that visit being a 
signal to the Irish rebels, they repaired to Lord Cbarlemont’s castle in 
great numbers, and his Lordship’s whole company, with Captain- 
Lieutenant Anthony Strafford, were either killed or imprisoned; and 
all their arms and goods seized by Sir Phelim O’Neill and his Irish 
followers. On the same night Sir Phelim marched his force to Dun¬ 
gannon, and took that town, in which upwards of sixty Protestant 
families were put to death. After keeping Lord Charlemont, with 
his Lordship’s mother, sister, and brothers, and the rest of the fami¬ 
ly sixteen weeks prisoners in Charlemont, this ferocious rebel sent 
them about six miles distance to Killenane, the house of Laurence 
Netterville, and the next day, sending away Major Patrick Dnry, the 
Lord Caulfield earnestly desired-Sir Phelim that the Major might stay 
with him, because he could speak the Irish language, but Sir Phelim 
answered, that the Major was a traitor, and should not stay with his 


95 


Lordship, but that be should have better company before night; ain'l 
the same day committed the charge of this Nobleman to Captain 
Neill Madhera O’Neill, and Captain Neal McKenna, of Trough, in 
the County of Monaghan, with directions to convey him to Clough- 
fer Castle, in tlie County of Cavan. That night he was taken to 
Kinard Castle, Sir Phelim’s own residence—when going into the 
Castle between the two Captains who had charge of him, M‘Kenna 
tfpoke to Edmond Boy O’Hugh, foster-brother to Sir Phelim, saying, 
“ Where is your heart now ?” Whereupon the said Edmond shot 
Lord Caulfield in the back, whereof he then died. William, the third 
brother of this noble sufferer, and fifth Baron of Charlemont, had 
the good fortune to apprehend Sir Phelim O’Neill, who was hanged 
for this and other barbarous murders, in the year 1652. With thes® 
recollections the Caulfields came to defend Londonderry in 1089. 

Line 2.— “ Chichester .” 

Sir Arthur Chichester, afterwards third Earl of Donegal, com- 
nanded a regiment of foot in the service of King* William. His fa¬ 
ther, the second Earl, had been attainted by King James's Parliament 
as an absentee. The uncle of the latter, Arthur, first Earl of Done¬ 
gal was resident at Carrickfergus, when the first tidings of the re¬ 
bellion were brought thither on Saturday the 23d of October, 1641, 
about ten o’clock at night. He immediately, by fires and alarm 
drums, raised the Country, and the the next day, leaving fifty mus- 
queteers under Captain Lyndon, to guard the Castle, delivered th® 
rest of the arms and ammunition to the Protestant Countrymen, whom 
he formed into companies, and on the 25th of the same month lie 
joined Lord Montgomery at Lisburn. Their forces united were about 
one thousand horse and foot, and on the 1st of November a commis¬ 
sion arriving from the Lords Justices and Council, to him and Sir 
Arthur Tyringham to command in chief within the County of An¬ 
trim, they took the best methods in their power for the suppression 
of the rebellion. 

Line 5. — 11 Colhoun from Letterkenny came*' 

<£ Him (Groves of Castleshannaghan,) 

Him, Charles Colqulioun assisted with some horse 
From Letterkenny, and they join’d our force. 

These and some thousands more came to the plain.’* 

^r/( Mss - Lib. z. 1 f. 

This Gentleman was the ancestor of a respectable family of the 
same name which is still resident at Letterkenny. lie was attainted 
by King James’s Parliament, with time given him to the 10th of 
August, 1689, to surrender himself. 

Line 8.— “ Adam Downing .” 

Captain Adam Downing, of the County of Londonderry, was 


BG 


tainted by King 1 James’s Parliament. He was ancestor of the late 
Rev. Clotwortliy Downing, Rector of Leek Patrick, in the County 
of Tyrone, who inherited from him a considerable property in the 
neighbourhood of Castledawson, and other places. He died at his resi¬ 
dence near that town, many years after the Revolution, and was bu¬ 
ried in the family Vault at Bellaghy, in the County of Londonderry, 
\,here a handsome monument was erected to his memory. 

Stanza XXVIII_ Line 1 & 2. 

u Stevenson nnd Beatty from Slievegallen came across. 
Colonel Stewart^ with Mulholland of Eden." 

By a clerical error, Stephenson was here written instead of Jack- 
son, and the cause of it was, that James Stephenson, Esq. of Port; 
William, near Tubbermore, is the descendant and possessor of th« 
property of this defender of Londonderry, who, with Colonel Stewart 
and Captain Mulholland, are thus noticed in the Armagh Mss.:— 

“ Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart from Maghera, 

Did to the City with a party draw. 

Captain Mulholland came from Maghera, 

From Tubbermore we Ensign Jackson saw/* 

Messrs. Alexander and William Clark, of Maghera, and Alexan¬ 
der 'Clark, of Upperland, Esq., are descended from this Ensign 
Jackson. 

Bernard and David Mulholland, were two of those who signed the 
Address from Londouderry to Kino- William and Queen Maiy, on 
the 29ffi of July, 1689. The family is still resident at Eden, in tho 
parish of Maghera, and hold lands in perpetuity there. 

u Beatty E 

Captain William Beatty, a distinguished officer at the siege of 
Derry. He was in the custom and almost daily habit of going out 
of the City with small parties, and seldom returned without doing 
some execution on the enemy, or bringing in some small prey. In 
the latter end of June, Captain Beatty was seized with a violent flux 
which rendered him useless to the garrison—so he took protection 
from the enemy, and went to his residence at Moneymore, to trv if 
be could recover his health. Mr. Mackenzie, the Presbyterian Mi¬ 
nister of Cookstown, who went with his Congregation to defend this 
City on this memorable occasion, and who published a well-known 
narrative of the siege afterwards, says, that Captain William Beatty 
bad been in all the encounters and skirmishes with the enemy before 
be left the City, and ever behaved himself with great integrity and 
valour. He was the grand-father of the late Archdeacon Beatty, of 
Maydown, in the County of Longford ; grand-father of Ross Beat¬ 
ty, of Clones, Esq., and father of Mr. James Beatty, a respectable 
merchant of Newry sixty years ago, who was never known to cross 


07 


tlic Boyne Water, without alighting from his horse and returning so¬ 
le ms i thanks to God for the great, deliverance of this Country, by the 
signal victory gained by King William, on the banks of that river. 

Line 3_“ Nesbitt.'' 

The Gentlemen of this name who were attainted hv King James’s 
Parliament were—Alexander Nesbitt, Gentleman, Donegal, or Lon¬ 
donderry ; James Nesbitt, Esq. Donegal, or Tyrone ; James Nes¬ 
bitt, Gentleman, Tyrone ; John Nesbitt, Esq. Donegal, or London¬ 
derry. T wo of these Gentlemen were Officers in the regiment of 
their relative, Sir Albert Conyngham, of Mount-Charles, who was 
cruelly assassinated near Coolooney, on his way to join the Pro¬ 
testant army besieging Sligo. 

“ Coxvan” 

Captain John Cowan, of St. Johnstown, in the County of Donegal, 
who brought a considerable body of men to the defence of London¬ 
derry. He was one of the thirty-six who signed a declaration of union 
on the 21st of March, 1G89, and was attainted by the pretended 
Parliament on the 7th of May, 1689. 

“ Denniston” 

Robert Denniston was one of those who signed the Address to 
King William ancl Queen Mary, at Londonderry, on the 29th of 
July, 1689. 

(i Fleming." 

James and Richard Fleming were two of those who signed the Ad¬ 
dress sent from Londonderry to the King and Queen, immediately af¬ 
ter the relief of the City. The former of these was grand-father of 

w U 

Mr. Patrick Fleming, of Strabane, Merchant. His residence was at 
Ballymagorry, in the County of Tyrone, and it was burned by the 
Irish on their retreat from Deny. 

“ CM.” 


Mathew Clark was one of those who signed the above-mentioned 
Address, according to the copy of the signatures annexed to it in 
Walker’s Diary. 

“ Ross” 


Captain David Ross was one of a Court-Martial, consisting of thir¬ 
teen Officers, who sat in Londonderry about the middle of July, 1689, 
to ascertain and rectify all misdemeanours in the garrison. The other 
members were, Captain Robert White, President, Lieutenant-Colo¬ 
nel Miller, Major J. Dobbin, Major Alexander Stewart, with Captains 

N 


98 


Crooke, W. Godfrey. T: Johrlston, A. Downing, Thos. Ash, Job ft 
Thompsdfi, J. Cochran, and Dobbin Advocate. Captain Ross wan 
murdered by one Samuel Lindsay, a trooper in Colonel Mur¬ 
ray’s regiment, on the 23d of July, who shot him through the 
heart with a carabine, on bis attempting to search for some 
saddles belonging to Sir Arthur HawdcH. 

Line 4,~“ Knot from Glenjtn .” 

Alexander Knox, of Kilcadden, in the County of Donegal, was 
nine of those vvhd addressed King William and Queen Mary, on the 
89th of July, 1689j He was the descendant of the Right Rev. Dr. 
Andrew Knox, who, on the 26th of June, 1611, was translated from 
the See of Orkney and the Isles of Scotland to that of Raphoe in Ire¬ 
land. This Prelate was soon afterwards called to the Privy Council, 
and he died on the llth of March, 1632, in the twenty-second year 
after his translation. Pie was succeeded in the Bishopriek of Raphoe 
hy the celebrated Bishop Lesley, who also was translated from Ork¬ 
ney, for the express purpose of making way for many of the Episcopal 
Clergy of Scotland, who, at that time, begftn to find it difficult to 
remain at their parishes there, froiii the severity of those who dis¬ 
approved of Episcopacy. 

Line 5.—“ Cummins .” 

This is the only name mentioned in this Work, unsupported hy 
Other authority than that of tradition ; and here I must take occa¬ 
sion to observe, that little or no reliance can be placed on that sort 
ef information, vague as it generally is found, and contrary to all le¬ 
gitimate historical documents. Cummins is said, by his descendants, 
to have gone with Colonel Hammel’s regiment from Lifford to the 
defence of Londonderry, when he was gray-headed and beyond the 
age of eighty years. 

On the approach of King James’s Army to the City on the 17th of 
April, orders were given that on pain of death none should dare to 
fire till the King’s demands were first known; but General Hamilton, 
contrary to a previous engagement, approaching rapidly to the town, 
Cummins was the first to fire at his troops, saying that he was the 
oldest man there, and was satisfied to suffer death for the disobedi¬ 
ence of such orders. The consequence was, that the whole of the 
garrison on that side of the town followed his example, which threw 
the enemy into such confusion, that they fled with precipitation, leav¬ 
ing a great many behind them killed or wounded ; and Walker tells 
ns (Diary , p. 8 j that King James shewed himself in some disorder, 
and much surprised to find the behaviour of his army, as well as of 
the besieged, so different from the character he had received of both* 


99 


Line 6. —> <e James Houston” 


James Houston was pne of those who signed the Londonderry Ad-? 
dress tQ King William and Queen Mary, which Governor Walker 
presented to their Majesties after the siege. According to the account 
given of Houston by his immediate descendants, he was born at Gar- 
vitragh, on the estate pf Squire Edwards, of Castlederg, on the 
pide of the riypr Finn opposite to that town. He joined the Protes¬ 
tant army at Castlefm, and assisted on the retreat to Londonderry, 
where he soon signalized himself as an expert marksman. On the 17th 
of April, with a long fowling-piece in common use in Derry and En¬ 
niskillen at this time, he killed the bearer of King James’s standard, 
as it advanced from Ballougry-hill towards the City, and continued 
to fire with such precision, as obliged it to be lowered three times be¬ 
tween the hill and the tranches. lie was afterwards attacked by dis¬ 
ease, and when slowly recovering, and from weakness unable either t<j> 
load or to raise Ids nnisquet without assistance, fired at and killed a 
French Officer who Was riding at Prehen, on the opposite side of the 
river, and had appeared there daily at the head of a troop. After the 
siege was raised he remained with the Protestant army, and having shar¬ 
ed in the glories of Boyne, Aughrim, and Limerick, returned to the 
County of Donegal, and settled at Tinklersford, in the Parish pf Ray- 
jnochy, on the estate of Dunjuff, where he died. 


SfTANZA XXIX.— Line 1.— “ Sir Tristram Bercsforas arrays 

•X * | 

Sir Tristram Beresford, of Coleraine, third Baronet of that ancient 
and honorable name. Jde commanded a regiment of foot in defence of 
the Protestants at this time, and was attainted by King James’s Par¬ 
liament on the 7th of May, 1689. His wife was youngest daughter 
and co-heiress of Hugh Hamilton, Baron Glenawly, whose residence 
was at Ballygawley, in the County of Tyrone. By this Lady he had 
issue one son, Marcus Earl of Tyrone, and four daughters. Sir 
Tristrim Beresford died on the 16th of June, 1701, and, according to 
his will, was buried in a vault under the family seat in the Church of 
Coleraine. The great-uncle of Sir Tristram was' Michael Beresford, 
Esq. of Coleraine and Dungarvan, who', on the 21st of November, 
1653, with others* was appointed o Commissioner in the precincts of 
Londonderry, for examining the delinquency of the Irish Papists, in 
order to the distinguishing of their qualification for transplantation in¬ 
to Connaught, and in 165 k lie was Sheriff of the Counties of Lon-» 
<londeny, Tyrone, and Donegal. 


On the 4th of November, 1720, Sir Marcus Beresford* the fourth 
Baronet, w'as advanced to the Peerage, and the following extract 
from the preamble to bis patent ol Nobility, records the services 


100 


two of this noble family, to the Protestant Interest in Ireland 
i( Quorum proven itores longo annorum serie insignia propter facinora 
ac virtutes inclaruerunt (prout Beresfordiorum genus ex quo in Bri- 
tanniain cum antecessore nostro Gulielmo primo penetrarunt, nosmerito 
nostris honoribus dignari sequum existimamus.—Illius prseclarae gentis 
unus nomine Tristram Berks ford, Jacobo primo, quo in Abavo 
gloriamur, regnum ineunte, in Hiberniam transiit multa in Rem An- 
glicanam provincia in Ultoniensi, nondurn satis stabilatam, praeclare 
gossit. Hujus inde filius Tristram Hereford eques cui cohortis 
regimen erat commissum, multa cum gloria Rebelles Contra Pro¬ 
test antes anno lilillessimo sexcentessimo quadragessimo primo imma- 
niter sawientes debellare congressus est, unde propter insignem in 
praeiis viirtutem, titulo Barronetti decoratus est.” 

Line 5. — “ Sir John Magill." 

This Gentleman resided on his estate at Gill-hall, in the County of 
Down. lie married, on the 3d of July, 1683, the daughter of Lord 
Glenawly, and died without issue in July, 1731. He is thus briefly 
noticed in the Armagh Mss.:—- 

“ Sir John Magill from Down some forces sent.” 

Lie was attainted, with the following Gentlemen of his name, by 
the pretended Parliament, on the 7th of May, 1689, viz.—Hugh 
Magill, Esq. Down; Captain Hugh Magill, Fermanagh ; John Ma¬ 
gill, Gentleman, Down; Hugh Magill, Gentleman, Wicklow ; Jas. 
Magill, junr. Gentleman, Down. 

Line 6.—“ Carey',' 


Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Carey, of Dungiven, in the County of 
Londonderry, who, with the following persons of his name were at¬ 
tained in the Parliament assembled by the abdicated Monarch, in May 
1689, viz.:—Francis Carey, Esq,, Captain Francis Carey, Captain 
Robert Carey, and Lieutenant William Carey, all of Donegal or 
Londonderry. Lodge says that this family is descended from the Ca¬ 
reys of Clonally, in Devonshire. George Carey, of Red-Castle, in 
the County of Donegal, married Jane, daughter of Michael Beres- 
ford, of Dungarvan and Coleraine, by whom he had issue, five sons 
and four daughors, viz.:—Francis Carey, of Red-Castle, who married 
Aiice, sister of Captain Henry Vaughan ; Edward Carey, of Dun- 
given, who died on the 4th of June, 1668 ; Robert Carey of White- 
Castle, in the County of Donegal, who died in March 1681, and 
Tri-tram Carey, a Lieutenant in the army. The daughters were, 
Lettice, Elizabeth, Anne and Mary. 


Stanza 


XXX— Line .2—“ Walker. 


The Rev. George Walker was instituted to the RectQries of Do- 


101 


notighmore and Errigall Keerogue, in tbe County of Tyrone, on the 

2d of March, 1602. I find by the books in the First Fruits Office, 

Record Tower, Dublin-Castle, that a person of the same name was 

instituted to tlie Rectory of Badoney, in the Diocese of Derry, on 

the 13th of January, 1630, and to the Rectory of Cappagh, in tlie 

same Diocese, on the 26th of September, 1G36. The following 

brief account of this heroic Governor of Londonderry, is given by 

Birch, the Historian :—“ Mr. George Walker, justly famous for his 

defence of Londonderry, in Ireland, when Lundy the Governor 

• * 

would have surrendered it to James II., was horn of English parents, 
in the County of Tyrone, in that Kingdom, and educated in the Uni¬ 
versity of Glasgow, in Scotland. He was afterwards Rector of Do- 
naghmore, not many miles from the City of Londonderry. Upon 
the Revolution he raised a regiment for the defence of the Protestants, 
and upon intelligence of King James having a design to besiege Lon¬ 
donderry, retired thither, being at last chosen Governor of it. After 
the raising of that siege he came to England, where he was most 
graciously received by their Majesties, and on the 19th of November, 
1689, received the thanks of the House of Commons, having just 
before published au account of that siege, and bad a present of five 
thousand pounds. He was created Doctor of Divinity by the Univer- 
ty of Oxford, on the 26tb of February, 1689-90.” Archbishop Til- 
lotson, thus wrote to the celebrated Lady Russel, on the 19th of 
September, concerning Dr. Walker, who was at that time in London : 

“ The King, besides his first bounty to Mr. Walker, whose modes¬ 
ty is equal to Lis merit, hath made him Bishop of Londonderry, one 
of the best Bishoprics in Ireland; that so he may receive the reward 
of that great service in the place where he did it. It is incredible how 
much every body is pleased with what the King has done in this mat¬ 
ter, and it is no small joy to me to see that God directs him to do so 
wisely.” 

Walker, in the Address to King William and Queen Mary, pre¬ 
fixed to his Diary of the Siege, observed, that the part lie had acted 
iii that service might more properly have been performed by other 
hands than those of a Clergyman, hut, that necessity which threw it 
upon him, he said, he hoped would justify him before God and tlie 
world from the irregularity of interesting himsslf in an affair for which 
lie was not qualified, either by education or profession, especially since 
the necessity which called him to it, was no sooner over, than he re¬ 
signed more cheerfully than he ever undertook the employment, that 
lie might apply himself to the duties of his sacred function. He was, 
however, tempted to go with the English Army to the Battle of the 
Boyne, where he received a musket wound in the belly, of which 
he died immediately, tho’ it was reported that he had only been rode 
down and slightly wounded in attempting to follow Duke Sehomberg 
over the river. 


102 


Sir John Dalrymple reflects heavily upon King William for saying*, 
when he heard of Walker’s death, at the Boyne— u Fool that he ivas , 
zvhat brought him there But surely the expression was as pardon¬ 
able as it was consistent with common sense, and might be well ex¬ 
cused in a Prince who had so munificently rewarded the departed he¬ 
ro. A monument was erected to his memory in the Church of Do- 
maghtpore, with the following inscription on it:— 

« READER, 

Hear this spot are interred 
the relics of 

The Rev. GEORGE WALKER ., 3. T. D* 

1 r * 

formerly 

Rector of this Parish, 

.By whose vigilance and bravery 
The City of Londonderry was defended 
f rom the enemies of WILLIAM III 
And of Religion, 

In the Year MDCLXXXIX 
lie teas slain 

On the Ranks of the Boyne, 

Engaged vi the same cause, against the sa?ns enemies* 

In the Year MJOCXC, 

To whose memory 
Us yet most disconsolate Widow 
Erected this Monument 
In the Year M D C C11 f* 



t- 


E Rfl A T V, 


Page 5, 
Page ti, 
Page 7, 
Page 12, 
Page —, 
Page 15, 
10 , 
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Page —, 
Page 48, 


'age 


Page 


Stanza III., for Galway read GaLMOY. 

Stanza V. for T ord Galmoy read the BUTLERS 
Stanza IX., for Bagwell read Bagnal. 

Stanza XXVII for Stevenson read Jackson. 
Stanza > XIX., for a any read array. 

Line 30 for supervenit read sur ervENIET. 

Line 6, for while read white. 

Line 5, for rKjuhp i t ad i t rigut. 

Line 6, for airo read aMEM. 

Line 32, for James 1. read JaK.es II. 









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